The Eldoret High Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Ibrahim Rotich, the prime suspect and estranged husband in the murder of celebrated international athlete Agnes Tirop.
The warrant was issued on Tuesday after the murder case hearing was adjourned for the second consecutive time due to Rotich’s absence.
The court was informed that Rotich had skipped the hearing and could not be traced by his family or his lawyer, Mbugua Ngingi.
Justice Robert Wananda, alongside State Counsel Leonard Okaka, raised concerns over the suspect’s failure to appear in court.
“We are made to understand that the prime suspect in the killing of marathoner Agnes Tirop is nowhere to be traced. We pray that his Sh400,000 cash bail be forfeited to the state for jumping bail,” argued Okaka.
Last month, the hearing was also postponed after Rotich failed to show up. His lawyer, Ngingi Mbugua, told the court he had been unable to reach his client on both his mobile phones.
Mbugua further shocked the court by revealing that Rotich had shifted from his known residence and that neither his family nor his legal team knew his whereabouts.
“Your lordship, I pray that we give him another chance to see if he will turn up in court during the next hearing, but in the event he doesn’t show up, then a warrant for his arrest should be issued,” Mbugua pleaded.
The slain marathoner’s father, Vincent Tirop, urged the judge to summon the Officer Commanding Eldoret Police Station (OCS) to explain how the accused person managed to jump bail.
Lawyer Warigi reminded the court that one of the conditions for Rotich’s release on bond was to report to the police station every Monday, with a record of his attendance maintained.
“We pray that you issue summons to the OCS attached to Eldoret Central Police Station to come to court and explain whether the suspect has been reporting to the station every Monday as per the court ruling of April 15, 2023,” said Warigi.
He further urged the court to compel the OCS to produce the attendance list as proof of compliance with bail conditions.
So far, about 10 key prosecution witnesses, including the slain athlete’s younger sister and father, have testified in the case.
Tirop, a former World Cross Country Champion and 10km record holder, was found dead at her Iten home on October 13, 2021.
Fourteen more state witnesses, including a government pathologist and homicide unit officers from Nairobi, are lined up to testify.
In his ruling, Justice Wananda issued a warrant of arrest against Rotich, who remains at large.
Additionally, he summoned the Eldoret Central OCS to appear before the court on April 8 to explain whether the accused had been complying with the bail conditions.
