He represented Kenya at the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, coming fifth and taking the team gold medal.

His first European road races came in 2009: at the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon he surprised with a third-place finish in a time of 61:19 minutes.

[2] He made his breakthrough into the top of his field at the 2012 CPC Loop Den Haag, running a big personal best of 58:54 minutes to win the race ahead of pre-race favourite Jonathan Maiyo.

[6] This result placed Kibet as the second fastest half marathoner in the world that year (behind Atsedu Tsegay) and moved him up to seventh on the all-time lists.

[2] Kibet was a prominent entrant at the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, his first international selection, but ended in sixth place over a minute behind winner Zersenay Tadese.