New Judge Takes Over Agnes Tirop Murder Trial as Search for Main Suspect Continues
The suspect’s disappearance has remained a painful issue for Tirop’s family, who have consistently attended court sessions in pursuit of justice for their daughter.
Suspect Ibrahim Rotich during his last appearance before the High Court in Eldoret prior to his disappearance. Photo/Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
A new judge has been assigned to preside over the high-profile murder trial of slain Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop following the transfer of Justice Robert Wananda from the High Court in Eldoret.
Justice John Chigiti officially took over the case and directed that the hearing resume on November 3, 2026, marking a new chapter in a trial that has faced significant delays due to the disappearance of the main suspect, Ibrahim Rotich.
When the matter came up for mention before him, Justice Chigiti ordered that all previous court proceedings be typed and compiled to enable him to fully familiarize himself with the case before proceeding with the hearing.
“Once I go through the file, I will proceed with full understanding of the case,” Justice Chigiti told the court.
The latest development comes as law enforcement agencies continue an extensive manhunt for Rotich, who has been missing for more than a year after being released on a Sh500,000 cash bail by the High Court in Eldoret.
Rotich, who was charged with the murder of Tirop, disappeared before the trial could be concluded, forcing the case into a prolonged standstill and triggering frustration among the athlete’s family and supporters.
Before his transfer, Justice Wananda had ruled that the trial could proceed despite the absence of the accused person. The ruling followed an application by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which argued that the continued disappearance of the suspect should not indefinitely delay the pursuit of justice.
The court was informed that multiple teams from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had been deployed across the North Rift region and other parts of the country in efforts to locate and arrest Rotich.
Investigators believe the suspect may still be hiding within the region, prompting a renewed operation targeting several locations where he has reportedly been sighted.
Justice Wananda had also issued orders directing detectives to intensify efforts to trace and arrest Rotich, a move that sparked a fresh nationwide search.
The suspect’s disappearance has remained a painful issue for Tirop’s family, who have consistently attended court sessions in pursuit of justice for their daughter.
Led by her father Vincent Tirop and uncle Daniel Kiptum, the family has repeatedly expressed disappointment with the handling of the case, particularly the decision to release Rotich on bond despite their objections.
“For how long are we going to come here without getting justice? We had objected to the release of the suspect on bond, but the court ignored our plea, after which he went missing,” Vincent Tirop told the court.
Under Kenya’s Constitution, accused persons are entitled to bond unless the prosecution demonstrates compelling reasons for their continued detention. Courts retain the discretion to determine appropriate bail and bond terms.
Following Rotich’s disappearance, the court ordered the forfeiture of the Sh500,000 cash bail to the state and issued a warrant for his arrest.
The prosecution, represented by Lucas Tanui and Clea Mureithi, informed the court that detectives have continued searching for the suspect but have yet to establish his whereabouts.
Lawyer Richard Warigi, who represents the Tirop family, supported the prosecution’s application to proceed with the hearing even as efforts to re-arrest Rotich continue.
Warigi said the family remains deeply concerned about the delays and fears justice may be undermined if the suspect remains at large.
“We are informed that there are efforts to trace the suspect, but the family will not relax until he is brought back to court,” he said.
Agnes Tirop, one of Kenya’s most celebrated long-distance runners and a two-time World Championship bronze medallist, was found dead at her home in Iten on October 13, 2021. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen in a killing that shocked the country and the international athletics community.
With a new judge now at the helm and the search for the missing suspect ongoing, the family hopes the resumption of proceedings later this year will move the case closer to a conclusion and finally deliver justice for the slain athlete.
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