The High Court has issued a directive for the arrest of Ibrahim Rotich, the prime suspect in the murder of international athlete Agnes Tirop. Justice Robert Wananda gave the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) more time to ensure that Rotich is apprehended and brought before the court to face the charges. The court also ordered that Rotich’s Sh500,000 bail be forfeited to the government, a decision made after the suspect failed to appear for court hearings, sparking concerns about his flight risk.
Rotich has been missing for some time, prompting the High Court to issue a warrant for his arrest. This came after Rotich, for the second time, failed to appear in Eldoret court for the hearing of his trial. The High Court had previously granted Rotich bail with the conditions that he report to the Eldoret police station weekly. However, the officer in charge of the station, Eldoret OCS James Lenaso, testified in court that Rotich had never complied with this condition, nor had he reported to the station since Lenaso assumed his position in the previous year.
The case had been ongoing for several years, with Rotich being granted bail in 2024 after a second application. His release had been contentious, with the prosecution opposing it due to concerns about him being a flight risk. Despite these concerns, Rotich’s lawyer, Ngige Mbugua, argued that his client was not likely to flee. However, as the trial progressed, it became apparent that Rotich had gone into hiding, and his lawyer reported that he was unable to contact him, either by phone or in person. A missing person report was filed with the Eldoret police station, but Rotich’s whereabouts remained unknown.
The prosecution, led by state counsel Leonard Okaka, insisted that Rotich had jumped bail and that the court should issue a warrant for his arrest. Okaka emphasized that the dates for hearing were known to Rotich’s counsel, and yet no clear information had been provided regarding the suspect’s whereabouts. The judge, acknowledging the failure of the accused to attend court, ordered that Rotich’s bail be forfeited and that he be apprehended.
The murder case centers around the tragic death of Agnes Tirop, a celebrated athlete who was found dead in her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, on October 12, 2021. Tirop had been returning from a successful competition in Germany, where she had broken the women’s 10-kilometer world record. Prior to her death, she had also won bronze medals in the 10,000-meter race at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships. Her murder sent shockwaves through the athletics community and her home country.
Rotich, who had been estranged from Tirop, is accused of murdering her by stabbing her to death. So far, 10 witnesses have testified in the case, with 14 more set to provide testimony. Rotich, who denies the charges, was supposed to stand trial for his alleged role in the murder, but his continued absence has delayed the proceedings.
The Tirop family, led by her father Vincent Tirop, has expressed their frustration over Rotich’s disappearance. They have reiterated that their sole desire is for justice to be served and that Rotich must be brought back to court to answer for the crime. The family’s lawyer, Richard Warigi, urged the court to ensure that its orders regarding Rotich’s arrest are enforced, as they continue to seek closure and justice for the tragic loss of Agnes Tirop. The case remains one of great public interest, with many hoping that the court will soon bring the accused to trial.
