Former Kenyan marathoner Beatrice Murugi has started receiving specialized treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). She was transferred to KNH on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and is expected to undergo surgery later in the week. Murugi's treatment follows an appeal for help after her plight was highlighted by local media outlets. Her health problems and financial struggles had made it difficult for her to access necessary medical care.
Murugi, who once represented Kenya in international competitions, has been battling persistent health problems while struggling financially to meet her medical needs and provide for her child. She currently lives in a single-roomed house in Nyahururu, Nyandarua County. Her journey in athletics began at Wangui Primary School in Ngamini, Ndaragwa, where her talent was reportedly identified while she was in Standard Four.
According to Murugi, an individual known as Kioni later introduced her to a training camp and helped facilitate her move to Japan when she was 14. She attended Toyo Power School from Form One to Form Three and completed her studies in 2011. At 17, Murugi was recruited by Toyota as an athlete. Her running career developed after she relocated to Japan in 2009, where she competed in half marathons and other road races.
The income she earned through athletics enabled her to support her family, including buying land for her parents and helping meet the education costs of her siblings. However, her financial situation later deteriorated after a series of setbacks. Murugi said she lost money in a land deal in Kiamaina before investing in a lorry that she planned to use to transport cabbages. The lorry was later involved in an accident at Del Monte in Thika.
Murugi also became a mother in August 2016. Three months after giving birth, she returned to Japan, where she competed in a half marathon before travelling back to Kenya. She was later signed by another company and continued competing for about a year before developing problems with her legs. Her competitive career was eventually brought to an end by a tendon injury in 2014.
Her health problems became more serious in 2021 when she began experiencing abdominal swelling and discomfort. Murugi sought medical attention at several health facilities and said she was initially informed that she had a uterine condition requiring surgery. She was later placed on medication that cost as much as Sh30,000 and was referred to different health facilities as she continued seeking treatment.
Despite the difficulties she has faced, Murugi has not abandoned her ambition of returning to athletics. She expressed hope to return to running in 2029 and represent Kenya. Currently, her child is schooling in Waigiri with assistance from a neighbour. Murugi believes that regaining control of a disputed parcel of land would give her and her child a more secure place to live and improve their prospects.
Key points
- Former Kenyan athlete Beatrice Murugi starts treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
- Murugi had struggled with health and financial difficulties.
- She hopes to return to athletics in 2029.
