Prosecution Links Kipkaren Murder Suspects to Politically-Funded Gang as Migiro Trial Opens in Eldoret

The hearing of the gruesome murder of 24-year-old businessman Samwel Ngoko Migiro opened today at the Eldoret High Court, drawing the attention of family members, residents, and human rights activists seeking justice for the slain entrepreneur.

One witness testified before Lady Justice Emily Ominde in a closed session, giving a chilling account of how Migiro was attacked and dragged away by a group of armed men on the night he disappeared. The court heard that the assailants, armed with machetes, bows and arrows, and heavy cudgels (rungus), stormed the young businessman’s residence in Kipkaren Estate, Kapseret Sub-County, and brutally assaulted him before dumping his body in River Kipkaren.

The protected witness positively identified the four accused in court — Dennis Kiptoo, Elvis Kiptanui, Abiud Barkutwa, and Cornelius Keter — as among those who participated in the killing. The court was further informed that a second witness will testify tomorrow as the hearing continues.

The accused, who appeared calm in the dock, have undergone mental assessments at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) to determine their fitness to stand trial.

In his submission before the court, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sylvester Thuo said the State will rely heavily on eyewitness accounts to prove its case against the accused persons.

“The prosecution intends to rely on credible eyewitness testimonies that place the accused persons at the scene of the crime,” Thuo told the court. “The evidence gathered shows that the murder was a coordinated and deliberate act, not a random incident.”

Thuo further informed the court that investigations had established that the four accused are members of a criminal gang allegedly bankrolled by a local politician to commit violent acts in the Kipkaren area.

“We have reason to believe that this gang received financial and logistical support from a local political figure to carry out these attacks,” he stated.

Postmortem Findings

According to postmortem results presented earlier by Dr. Benson Macharia of MTRH and Dr. Walter Nalianya of the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), Migiro sustained multiple injuries consistent with a violent assault before being thrown into the river while still alive. The cause of death was ruled as drowning secondary to blunt-force trauma, suggesting that the victim struggled with his attackers before dying.

Linked to Another Murder

Investigations have also revealed that two of the accused — Cornelius Keter and Dennis Ronoh — are under investigation in connection with another high-profile killing in the same area. The two are suspected of involvement in the murder of 76-year-old businessman Mzee Phillip Moi, who was dragged from his home in Kipkaren Estate and set ablaze in April 2025, just weeks before Migiro’s death.

The inquest file into Moi’s murder is scheduled for hearing on January 21, 2026, before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Eldoret. The case has stirred public interest and concern among human rights groups, who note that the victims were positively identified by the widow, yet no substantive progress has been made toward prosecution.

However, activists have commended the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), Daniel Muleli, for initiating what they termed an independent and impartial investigation into the matter.

“We appreciate the CCIO’s commitment to pursuing justice without political interference,” said a rights advocate familiar with the case. “This step gives hope that the truth will finally come out, and those responsible will be held accountable.”

Independent Probe Underway

An independent investigation has been launched by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the DPP to establish the full circumstances surrounding both killings.

Local human rights activist Kimutai Kirui  and Juma Akumu welcomed the start of the trial,

“These cases have exposed how criminal gangs can thrive under political protection. We have faith the court process will deliver justice to the victims and their families,” said Kirui.

The court is expected to reconvene tomorrow for the testimony of the second witness as the murder trial of Samwel Ngoko Migiro continues.