The 2007 season became his breakthrough year, when he won junior race gold medal at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and then the 1500 m gold at the All-Africa Games. He ran a personal best to finish fourth in the 1500 m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. In recognition of his achievements, he won the Most Promising Sportsman of the Year category at the 2007 Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year awards.