The High Court has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to arrest Ibrahim Rotich, the prime suspect in the murder of world-renowned athlete Agnes Tirop, after he failed to appear in court for the second time.
Justice Robert Wananda ordered DCI officer Johnstone Sanga to take all necessary steps to ensure Rotich is apprehended and presented in court to face trial. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the Sh500,000 cash bail Rotich had deposited, citing his disappearance.
“I order the DCI to ensure the suspect is arrested and brought before this court,” said Justice Wananda, who had earlier issued a warrant of arrest for Rotich.
Rotich had been granted bond in 2024—set at Sh400,000 with two sureties or a Sh500,000 cash bail—despite strong opposition from the prosecution. His release came with conditions, including a requirement to report to the Eldoret Police Station weekly.
However, Eldoret OCS James Lenaso, who was summoned to court, told the judge that since taking office last year, he had never seen the suspect report as required.
Rotich’s lawyer, Ngige Mbugua, recently told the court he was unable to reach his client by phone or locate him physically, adding that a missing person report had been filed with police. However, State Counsel Leonard Okaka maintained that the suspect had deliberately absconded and urged the court to act firmly, saying no concrete information had been provided about Rotich’s whereabouts.
The family of Agnes Tirop, represented by lawyer Richard Warigi, called on the court to strictly enforce its orders. Tirop’s father, Vincent Tirop, attended the hearing and expressed the family’s deep concern that Rotich’s disappearance could deny them justice.
So far, 10 witnesses have testified in the ongoing trial, with 14 more expected. Rotich has denied murdering his estranged wife, who was found stabbed to death at her Iten home on October 12, 2021. The 25-year-old athlete had just returned from Germany after breaking the women’s 10km world record.
Tirop was a rising star in long-distance running, having won bronze in the 10,000m at both the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.
