Tirop murder trial stalls again as prime suspect fails to appear in court

Eldoret High Court Judge Robert Wananda, who had been scheduled to kick off the trial proceedings on Tuesday morning, expressed frustration at the continued delays.
The much-anticipated murder trial of slain long-distance runner Agnes Tirop has hit yet another snag after the key suspect, Ibrahim Rotich, failed to show up in court for the fourth consecutive time.
Eldoret High Court Judge Robert Wananda, who had been scheduled to kick off the trial proceedings on Tuesday morning, expressed frustration at the continued delays. The judge ordered the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to intensify efforts to produce the suspect in court without further delay.
Despite the court’s readiness to proceed, DCI officers assigned to the case asked for more time, citing difficulties in tracing Rotich’s whereabouts. They pleaded for a two-week window to locate and present him before the court.
Rotich, who is facing charges in connection with the brutal killing of Tirop in October 2021, is currently out on a cash bail of Ksh.500,000. He secured the bail two years ago after a successful second bond application. His lawyer, Ngigi Mbugua, had at the time convinced the court that his client posed no risk of fleeing and would cooperate with legal proceedings.
The former athlete is accused of murdering Tirop, a world championship medalist, at their home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, in a case that shocked the sporting world and drew widespread condemnation. Tirop was found dead on October 12, 2021, with stab wounds, just months after representing Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics.
Since his release, concerns have been mounting over Rotich’s commitment to the legal process. His continued absence has only deepened the frustration of Tirop’s family, friends, and the athletics fraternity, who have been seeking justice for nearly four years.
With the court granting detectives an additional two weeks, all eyes will now be on the DCI to deliver. The prolonged delays have raised fresh questions about the enforcement of bail conditions and the broader implications for justice in high-profile cases.