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Vincent Ng'ososei Kiprono (left), and Jamlick Kiptoon Morogit, who are accused of the murder of retired athlete Samson Kandie, appear at the Eldoret High Curt on May 13, 2025.
An Eldoret court on Monday heard that Rose Chepkemboi Rotich, wife of former international marathoner Samson Kandie, allegedly hired goons to “discipline” her husband over suspected infidelity — a move that ultimately led to his death.
Testifying before Justice Reuben Nyakundi, state witness Joshua Nyanchae, a hawker in Eldoret, said Ms Rotich approached him through a former house help with an offer of Sh200,000 to carry out the act. Nyanchae said he received a Sh10,000 down payment before backing out.
“Though I had received Sh10,000 as a deposit, I realised that the assignment was too hard for me and that is why I declined to continue with the mission to discipline the deceased as requested by madam,” he testified.
Nyanchae was initially arrested as a suspect in the murder, but later turned into a state witness. He told the court that Ms Rotich was distressed about a woman named Millicent, whom she suspected of having an affair with Kandie.
Another witness, Felix Kodek, said the accused approached him and two others at an Eldoret hotel to discuss the assault plan. He testified that Ms Rotich bought them alcohol and handed over Sh9,000.
“We met with madam at Belasco hotel where she bought us alcohol as we discussed how to execute the mission. During our meeting she gave us Sh9,000 and our then team leader gave me Sh2,000, and later on I opted out of the mission,” Kodek said.
Kodek added that Ms Rotich was angered by Kandie’s alleged violent behavior, especially after she confronted him about the suspected affair.
Rose Chepkemboi Rotich, wife of retired athlete Samson Kandie who was killed in October last year, appears at the Eldoret High Court on May 13, 2025.
The accused’s former house help, Sheila Malakwen, told the court Ms Rotich frequently complained about Kandie's alleged affair.
“The accused… used to complain about her husband’s extra-marital affair with a commercial sex worker that she had identified,” said Malakwen.
She claimed the accused was so disturbed by the matter that she sought advice on how to discipline both her husband and the other woman.
Malakwen also testified that one of the accused used her phone to send threatening messages to the deceased while pretending to be the other woman’s boyfriend. “One of the accused knew madam through me and… borrowed my phone to text the deceased with threatening messages,” she said.
Athlete Samson Kandie who was killed on Thursday, October 3, night at the posh estate of Elgon View in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
A former farmhand, Alex Wanjala, told the court Mr Kandie had shared concerns about receiving threatening messages. One such message read:
“I am looking for your head. I warn you to leave my sister Rose alone and deal with your prostitute known as Millicent,” he testified.
Mr Wanjala said he took a screen shot of the threatening message from Kandie’s phone.
According to a police report, Kandie’s hands and legs were tied, and his phone was stolen — though nothing else was taken from his Elgon View residence. He was found unconscious on October 2, 2024, and rushed to Real Hospital in Eldoret, where he died the following day.
Three people — including Ms Rotich — are charged with Kandie’s murder. The other suspects are Jamlick Morogit and Vincent Ngososei Kiprono.
So far, four witnesses have testified, with 13 more expected. The hearing continues on June 2.
The late Kandie, 53, was a celebrated long-distance runner known for winning the 2004 Vienna Marathon. He set his personal best of 2:08:31 at the 1999 Berlin Marathon, where he finished third — a feat he also achieved in 1998.
