Outcry Over Suspected Cover-Up in Eldoret Murder Case: Rights Group Demands Justice for Slain Husband
Centre Against Torture claims the inquest serves as a “diversionary tactic aimed at insulating culpable parties and derailing justice.”
Eldoret Based Human Right Activist Kimutai Kirui
The Centre Against Torture , a human rights watchdog based in Eldoret, has issued an urgent appeal to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to intervene in what it describes as a “systemic obstruction of justice” in the murder case of Mr. Philip Moi.
In a formal letter dated May 26, 2025, Centre Against Torture—speaking on behalf of Mr. Moi’s widow, Caroline Moi—alleges gross misconduct by DCI officers based at Langas, Uasin Gishu County, including the suppression of witnesses, mishandling of evidence, and shielding of suspects linked to land-related violence.
Shocking Attack and Aftermath
According to the widow’s testimony, on April 3, 2025, a group of individuals forcibly entered the Moi residence by cutting through the perimeter fence using a power saw. The assailants then reportedly dragged Mr. Moi from the compound after violently assaulting both him and his wife.
“They struck him on the head and dragged him away. I was also attacked and thrown to the ground before escaping to the police for help,” Ms. Moi stated in her account to the Centre Against Torture.
Despite the widow positively identifying some of the attackers, no meaningful investigation has ensued, the letter claims. Instead, the DCI opened Inquest File E002/2025 at Eldoret Law Courts without interviewing key witnesses or conducting a substantive inquiry. The case is scheduled for mention on June 4, 2025.
Human Rights Group Alleges Cover-Up
Centre Against Torture claims the inquest serves as a “diversionary tactic aimed at insulating culpable parties and derailing justice.” They further cite previous court decisions, such as ODPP v Denis Kiptoo Rono & Others (App. E311/2025), in which similar matters were treated with greater urgency and diligence.
“This is not about bureaucratic delay—it is about deliberate suppression. Every procedural failure appears calculated,” the letter asserts.
In one of the more disturbing allegations, Ms. Moi was denied the right to lodge a complaint, barred from the postmortem process, and replaced with another “next-of-kin” without explanation. The deceased was subsequently buried in Roret, Kericho—against the widow’s wishes and customary norms.
Police Complicity and Political Shielding?
The watchdog also accuses a prominent local figure of orchestrating land-related violence in the Kipkenyo and Kipkaren areas, citing a disturbing pattern in which victims of eviction and assault end up being charged with crimes, while perpetrators remain untouched.
“The main financier at the centre of all land-related crimes brags that the police and court in Uasin Gishu sanitize his dirty land deals,” the letter reads.
They link the same network to at least three suspicious deaths in the past two months and claim the police and courts are well aware of the gang’s operations.
In light of these serious concerns, Kimutai Kirui of the Centre Against Torture has issued a formal statement demanding immediate action. The organization calls for the reassignment of the investigation to the Homicide Division at DCI Headquarters, emphasizing that only an independent and professional forensic inquiry can ensure a credible outcome. Kimutai further demand a full public inquiry into the conduct of officers at DCI Langas, particularly Officer Fredrick “Pete” Rapando, for alleged obstruction of justice, abuse of office, and suppression of evidence.
Additionally, the human right organization has called for prosecutorial oversight by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions under Article 157(4) of the Constitution, asserting that the conduct in question may constitute conspiracy to defeat justice and deliberate evidence tampering. They also demand full disclosure of all occurrence book entries, witness statements, and crime scene reports before the June 4, 2025 court mention at the Eldoret Law Courts.
The organization has pledged to monitor the matter closely and to mobilize legal and institutional resources to ensure accountability is upheld and justice is not denied.
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