“Caroline saw who did this. She named names. Yet, she’s the one in jail. That tells you how broken the system is.”
Caroline Cherotich Moi, overcome by emotion, speaks during a press briefing in Eldoret as she recounts the events surrounding her husband's death.
A widow in Uasin Gishu County is pleading for justice after her husband, Philip Moi, was brutally murdered and burnt inside their home in Kimoson Village, Kipkenyo Ward, allegedly over a land dispute involving a suspected member of county assembly and The Taliban criminal gang associated with the local MCA .
Caroline Cherotich Moi, the widow, claims the horrifying attack happened in broad daylight on April 3, 2025 — and that police, instead of investigating or helping her, detained and blamed her for her husband’s death.
“They came, beat me, dragged my husband out of our house, and set him on on fire ,” she recalled, fighting back tears. “When I ran to report it, they locked me up.”
Broad Daylight Attack Sparks Fear and Outrage
According to Caroline, the day started normally as she and her husband took tea at home. But calm turned to chaos when they heard noises outside. Stepping out, Philip found men cutting their fence.
“He asked me to bring my phone to record them,” Caroline said. “Before I could start recording, they snatched the phone from me, beat me, and then the area MCA hit me too. I fell down.”
She alleges the attackers, some known to the family and linked to local political actors, accused her husband of being a witchdoctor — a claim she firmly denies.
“They said they wanted ‘the bones,’ claiming he was a witch,” she said. “Philip kept telling them we had nothing like that. But they set him ablaze.”
Caroline says Philip told her to flee with their documents as the mob descended on him. She ran barefoot to Eldoret Central Police Station — over 8 kilometers away — only to be met with disbelief.
From Victim to Suspect: Police Detain the Widow
“I told them my husband was being burnt alive,” Caroline said. “They told me to go to the County Criminal Investigations Office. When I got there, I was told they had heard he wasn’t burnt. Then I was arrested.”
Caroline was locked up and later informed she was a suspect in her husband’s death — an allegation she calls both false and cruel.
“They claimed I had left ,after a quarrel with my husband. But I had gone to school for exams. My husband would have confirmed that we were okay, if he was alive” she said.
Despite her pleas, Caroline was excluded from her husband’s postmortem and burial.
“They buried him in Kericho. I wasn’t even consulted. He was my husband, and they treated me like I was nothing.”
Activists Demand National Probe: “This is Not an Isolated Case”
Human rights activists have condemned the attack and the police handling of the case, saying it reflects deeper systemic issues in the region.
Kimutai Kirui of the Centre Against Torture says Moi’s killing mirrors a trend of land-grabbing violence in Langas and Kipkenyo.
Human rights activist Kimutai Kirui addresses the media in Eldoret, calling for a thorough investigation into the killing of Philip Moi and alleged police cover-up.
“Since 2014, goons linked to the area MCA , have terrorized residents,” said Kirui. “They assault, burn, or drown victims to cover their tracks. Philip Moi is one of many.”
He called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Inspector General of Police to take over the investigation.
“Caroline saw who did this. She named names. Yet, she’s the one in jail. That tells you how broken the system is.”
Civil Society Slams Police Conduct
The Eldoret Social Justice Centre also criticized the police response.
“It’s unacceptable that a grieving wife reporting her husband’s murder is arrested,” said Benson Juma Akumu. “Why didn’t anyone help him when he was set on fire? Why was a fire engine sent instead of an ambulance?”
Akumu echoed calls for an independent investigation by land fraud units based in Nairobi and gave authorities seven days to act.
Benson Juma of the Eldoret Social Justice Centre speaks to the press, condemning the police response and demanding immediate action against those involved in Philip Moi’s murder.
“The perpetrators are known. There is no excuse for delay.”
Police Say Inquest Underway, Justice Will Be Served
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed that an investigation file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), which recommended an inquest.
“An inquest will determine the cause of death and identify those responsible,” Mwanthi said. “If anyone is found culpable, they will face the law.”
County Criminal Investigations Officer Daniel Muleli added that the case remains open.
County Criminal Investigations Officer Daniel Muleli (left) and Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi (centre) address the press on the ongoing inquest into the death of Philip Moi.
“We’ve recorded a new statement from Caroline. Anyone with more information should come forward. No side is being protected.”
A Cry for Justice and Protection
Still in hiding for fear of her life, Caroline says she will not be silenced.
“They want me quiet, but I won’t stop. I want justice — not just for Philip, but for every family affected by this violence.”
Activists say the case is a litmus test for Kenya’s justice system.
“If we can’t get justice for a man burnt alive while his wife watched,” said Kirui, “what hope is there for the rest of us?”
Eldoret Media Hub, a working space for journalists based in Uasin Gishu County set up by the Uasin Gishu Journalists Association (UGJA) through a Media Council of Kenya (MCK) grant.
The facility was officially opened in August 2021 by the MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo.
