Agnes Tirop Murder: Court orders manhunt for suspect after disappearance

The search for Ibrahim Rotich, the key suspect in the murder of Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop, has intensified after he went into hiding, prompting a court order for his immediate arrest.

Justice Robert Wananda of the Eldoret High Court directed three officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Homicide Unit to execute the arrest warrant without delay.

The officers, Corporals Johnston Sanga, Philip Ndedo and Sergeant Julius Koima, were given the task after it emerged that Rotich had disappeared in violation of strict bond conditions.

The court heard that Rotich had been released on bail without requiring anyone to stand surety for him.

Instead, he deposited a cash amount with the court to secure his release, despite facing a serious charge of murder.

The judge expressed disbelief at the manner in which the release had been handled and held the DCI Homicide team responsible for the suspect’s disappearance.

Justice Wananda was firm in his directive, saying the officers must produce Rotich “dead or alive.”

This decision followed revelations that the suspect had failed to follow all the conditions imposed by the court when he was granted bond after spending two years in Eldoret GK remand prison.

Among the conditions was a requirement that Rotich remain within Uasin Gishu County, the court’s jurisdiction.

He was also forbidden from going to Iten town in Elgeyo Marakwet County, where Tirop was killed.

In addition, Rotich was instructed to stay away from Tirop’s family and avoid any communication with prosecution witnesses.

However, the court was stunned when Eldoret Central Police Station OCS James Lenaso disclosed that since taking office on April 1, 2024, he had never documented Rotich’s attendance, raising questions about the enforcement of the bail terms.

DCI officer Johnstone Sanga requested a one-month window to track down and arrest the suspect.

“Give us at least one month to execute your order,” he said, assuring the court of their commitment to bring Rotich to justice.

The judge has now set the case for hearing on June 12, 2025, expressing hope that Rotich will have been located and returned to court by then.