By Rashid Muzungyo in Kapchorwa

Olympic gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich’s security has been beefed up, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Kapchorwa, Jane Frances Kuka disclosed on Tuesday.

This follows reports that an unidentified person stole a camera from the Olympic marathon champion while he was in company of guests during a function at his up-country home in Kaminy village, Tegeres Sub-County.

It is suspected one of the people attending the function at Kiprotich’s home snatched the camera.

“This boy needs more security because you can imagine a camera was stolen from him during a function in his home village. If a camera can be stolen from him then his security is not guaranteed,” Kuka, also the chairperson of the district security committee, said.

She disclosed that the marathoner has now been assigned a bodyguard and this will start immediately he returns from China where he is on an official visit.

Kiprotich won gold during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, becoming only the second Ugandan to achieve the feat following John Akii-Bua’s in Munich in 1972.

This prompted President Yoweri Museveni to reward him with a cash donation of sh200m.

A Vision Group cash drive also raised sh300m besides a promotion from the rank of constable to that of Assistant Superintendent of Prisons.

Kuka promised to write to the Minister for Internal Affairs to ensure that the athlete’s security is beefed up “because he is now a VIP”.

Kiprotich’s success has also made him an idol for budding athletes within the Sebei sub-region following Moses Kipsiro’s double gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in India.