The pursuit of justice for slain Kenyan marathon star Agnes Tirop has once again been delayed after an Eldoret court halted proceedings in her murder trial for the fifth time, following the continued absence of the prime suspect, Ibrahim Rotich.
Presiding Judge Robert Wananda expressed deep frustration on Monday, lambasting officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) homicide unit for failing to apprehend or produce Rotich, who has now missed multiple court appearances.
“The delay in this matter is unacceptable. The DCI must take this case seriously and ensure that the suspect is brought to justice,” an irate Judge Wananda told the courtroom. He criticized the apparent laxity with which the investigation and tracking of the fugitive is being handled, describing it as a serious miscarriage of justice for Tirop and her family.
Rotich, who was Tirop’s husband and the key suspect in her murder, was released on a Ksh. 500,000 cash bail in 2023. In granting him bail, the court had imposed strict conditions, including a prohibition from entering Iten town in Elgeyo Marakwet County, where Tirop was killed, and an order requiring him to remain within Uasin Gishu County, the jurisdiction of the Eldoret court.
Additionally, Rotich was directed to report to DCI officers at the Central Police Station in Eldoret every Monday. However, court records and police reports indicate that the suspect has not complied with these conditions and has remained at large since his last known appearance on February 27, 2025.
Agnes Tirop, a celebrated long-distance runner and world athletics sensation, was found brutally murdered in her home in Iten on October 13, 2021. A government pathologist’s postmortem report confirmed that she had suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck and blunt force trauma to the head, indications of a violent struggle.
The delay in bringing her suspected killer to justice has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly from the athletics fraternity and human rights groups, who have called for greater accountability and urgency in handling gender-based violence cases involving prominent victims.
Tirop’s death sparked both national and international outrage, with many pointing to systemic failures in protecting women, even those in the public eye. Her murder also ignited fresh debate around domestic violence, mental health, and the challenges faced by elite female athletes behind closed doors.
With the trial now indefinitely stalled, Judge Wananda directed the DCI to issue a renewed warrant for Rotich’s arrest and ordered the Inspector General of Police to provide a status update on efforts to locate and apprehend the fugitive before the next scheduled court mention.
The judge also hinted at the possibility of holding DCI officers in contempt if no progress is made by the next hearing date.
The court is expected to reconvene on September 9, 2025, to assess the state of the case.
As the legal system continues to falter, the Tirop family, and the country, waits anxiously, hoping that justice for one of Kenya’s brightest athletic stars will not remain elusive forever.
Written By Rodney Mbua
