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Post Reply: Agnes Tirop Murder Trial Postponed Again as Court Grants DCI Two Weeks to Locate Missing Suspect

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on July 24, 2025, 6:00 am</div><div id="pl-7172"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7172-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7172-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7172-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="0 0 []">The murder trial of celebrated Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop has been delayed for the fourth time due to the continued absence of the prime suspect, her estranged husband, Ibrahim Rotich. The High Court in Eldoret, presided over by Justice Robert Wananda, was thrown into disarray on July 23, 2025, as emotional protests erupted from Tirop’s family and human rights activists frustrated by the ongoing delays. The court has now given the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) a two-week deadline to locate and apprehend Rotich, with the case scheduled for mention again on August 6, 2025.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Agnes Tirop, a 25-year-old star athlete, was found dead in her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, on October 13, 2021, with multiple stab wounds to her neck and head injuries from a blunt object. A postmortem conducted at Iten County Referral Hospital confirmed the brutal nature of her death. Tirop, a double bronze medallist in the 10,000-meter race at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, had recently broken the women’s 10-kilometer world record in Germany with a time of 30:01. She also competed in the 5,000-meter race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth, and won a gold medal at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships. Her death shocked the global athletics community and sparked widespread calls for justice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ibrahim Rotich, arrested shortly after Tirop’s body was discovered, was charged with her murder and has been the focal point of the trial. Investigations by the DCI linked Rotich to the crime, citing a history of domestic conflicts between the couple, including disputes over wealth from Tirop’s athletic career. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from Tirop’s home placed Rotich at the scene of the murder on October 12, 2021, a day before her body was found, and detectives noted that the footage suggested intent. Additional evidence, including blood-stained murder weapons still under forensic analysis, has been referenced by prosecutors to build a case against him.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Rotich was released on a bond of 400,000 Kenyan shillings with two sureties of the same amount, or a cash bail of 500,000 Kenyan shillings, in November 2023, after spending two years in custody. His release followed a second bail application where his lawyer, Ngigi Mbugua, successfully argued that Rotich was not a flight risk, despite strong opposition from the prosecution. The bail conditions required Rotich to report to the Eldoret Police Station every Monday and barred him from leaving Uasin Gishu County or visiting Iten, where the murder occurred and where most witnesses reside. However, Rotich has failed to comply with these terms, missing multiple court appearances since February 27, 2025.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The court’s frustration with Rotich’s absence was evident during the July 23 hearing. Justice Wananda criticized the police for their failure to enforce bail conditions and execute an arrest warrant issued on March 18, 2025. Eldoret Central Police Station’s Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Chief Inspector James Lenaso, admitted to the court that Rotich had never reported to the station as required, claiming he was unaware of the bail terms due to his deployment to the station in August 2024. Lenaso further revealed that Rotich had vacated his known residence in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, and his mobile phones had been switched off, rendering him untraceable. A missing person report has been filed, and a search is reportedly ongoing, but these efforts have yet to yield results.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The repeated adjournments have fueled anger among Tirop’s family and supporters. During the latest hearing, the courtroom became a scene of chaos as family members, led by Tirop’s father, Vincent Tirop, and human rights activists transformed the proceedings into a protest. Demonstrators chanted slogans and held placards bearing Tirop’s image, expressing their exasperation with the judicial process. One protester shouted, “We are tired of waiting. This is injustice,” capturing the sentiment of those present. Kimutai Kirui from the Centre Against Torture was particularly vocal, accusing the judiciary of corruption and questioning why Rotich was released despite warnings about his potential to abscond. Vincent Tirop demanded answers from the police, urging the court to summon the Eldoret OCS to explain how Rotich managed to evade authorities.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The prosecution, represented by lawyer Leonard Okaka, argued for the forfeiture of Rotich’s 400,000 Kenyan shilling cash bail to the state, citing his repeated failure to appear in court. Okaka also highlighted the prosecution’s concerns about Rotich’s compliance with bail conditions, noting that the police’s laxity had allowed him to disappear. Lawyer Richard Warigi, representing Tirop’s family, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that a letter had been sent to the DCI outlining the bond conditions, which were clearly not enforced. Warigi pressed for the Eldoret OCS to provide a record of Rotich’s attendance at the police station, a request Justice Wananda granted, ordering the OCS to appear in court on April 8, 2025, to clarify compliance with the bail terms.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The trial has already seen significant progress, with 10 of the 27 prosecution witnesses, including Tirop’s father and younger sister, having testified. These witnesses have provided critical insights into the case, including testimony from Tirop’s former coach, Joseph Cheromei, who revealed that Tirop feared for her life due to an extramarital affair in the weeks leading up to her death. Cheromei’s testimony, based on conversations with Tirop’s manager, Giani Demadona, pointed to underlying tensions in her marriage to Rotich. Additionally, a businessman, John Samoei, testified that he witnessed the couple’s marriage registration between 2016 and 2017 and later mediated a reconciliation attempt after they had a falling out, though the issues persisted.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Justice Wananda expressed hope that Rotich would be located by the next court date, stating, “I hope the accused person is safe wherever he is so that he does not endanger his safety.” However, the judge’s patience appeared to be wearing thin, as he ordered three DCI officers from the homicide department, Corporals Johnston Sanga, Philip Ndedo, and Police Sergeant Julius Koima, to act swiftly to execute the arrest warrant. Wananda emphasized that the trial could not proceed without the accused’s presence, underscoring the urgency of locating Rotich.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The case has drawn significant attention both in Kenya and internationally, given Tirop’s stature as a global athletics icon. Her tragic death at the peak of her career has raised broader concerns about gender-based violence, with activists using the case to highlight systemic issues in addressing such crimes. The prosecution has maintained that the evidence against Rotich is compelling, and the case is expected to resume with full force once he is apprehended. For now, Tirop’s family and supporters continue to wait for justice, their frustration mounting with each delay.</p>
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