Japheth Kimutai (born 20 December 1978, in Lelmokwo, Nandi District) is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who specialized in 800 metres.

In 1998 he won the gold medal at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in a time of 1:43.82. In the same year he won the African Championships 800 metres in Dakar, Senegal. He finished fourth at the 1998 IAAF World Cup.^{[citation needed]}

In 1999 he won gold at the All-Africa Games.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000 in Sydney for the Olympic Games Japheth failed to reach the final despite running the quickest time by a Kenyan in the games.^{[citation needed]}

He had started his career brightly when in 1994 he won the silver medal at the World Junior Championships and then in 1997 when still a Junior set the World junior record in the 800 metres in a time of 1:43.64 in Zürich on 13 August 1997. The world junior record was beaten by Abubaker Kaki of Sudan in 2008.^[1]

He is currently the Director Complete Sports Athletics Training Centre, Kaptagat.^{[citation needed]}