Almost four years after the brutal murder of celebrated Kenyan long-distance runner Agnes Tirop, grief and outrage continue to mount as her family, friends, fellow athletes, and local leaders express frustration over stalled court proceedings and the unexplained disappearance of the prime suspect, Ibrahim Rotich.
Today, outside the Eldoret High Court, emotions ran high as those closest to Tirop gathered once again—this time not to attend a hearing, but to protest yet another adjournment in a case that has come to symbolize the ongoing crisis of femicide and systemic failure in Kenya’s justice system.
Agnes Tirop, a 25-year-old Olympian and world record holder in the women-only 10km road race, was found stabbed to death in her home in Iten in October 2021. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was arrested days later while trying to flee the country. He was charged with her murder but controversially released on a KSh 500,000 cash bail. Since then, his whereabouts have been unclear, and the case has been postponed four times.
“We Are Living in Fear”
Daniel Bor, Tirop’s brother, voiced the family’s pain and growing fear. “We are here today to condemn the killing of my sister and the miscarriage of justice that is happening before our eyes. The man who killed her was released on bond. He is now out there, and we don’t know what he’s planning. Every time we come to court, we are told the case is postponed. Why is justice being delayed? We are living in fear,” he said.
Bor appealed directly to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior to intervene and ensure the suspect is re-arrested and the case proceeds without further delay. “How can a murder suspect walk free for years while the family of the victim is left in pain and uncertainty?”
“Where Is the Justice for My Daughter?”
Agnes’ father, Vincent Tirop, gave a heartbreaking account of how the family has been tormented since the murder. “This case began in 2021, but it has been turned into a game of cat and mouse. The man who murdered my daughter ran away and was arrested, only to be released on bond. Where is the justice for my child?”
Vincent added that the family had never been offered any form of state protection, despite multiple threats and fears for their safety. “We are now being told by the DCI that they don’t know where the suspect is. How can that be? Our lives are at risk, and we are pleading with the government to protect us.”
A Voice in the Assembly Speaks Out
Also present was Mercy Jepkurui, Nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Uasin Gishu County, who strongly criticized the judiciary’s handling of the case.
“It is shameful that a young woman who brought pride to this country through her athletic achievements can be murdered and yet receive no justice for nearly four years,” Jepkurui said. “The fact that a suspect in a murder case can disappear after posting a small cash bail is a stain on our justice system.”
She urged judicial reforms, particularly around cases involving gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. “This is not an isolated case. It reflects a wider crisis in the way our courts and law enforcement handle violence against women. We must make Tirop’s case the turning point.”
“An Example Must Be Set”
Mildred Cherop, an athlete who trained alongside Tirop in Iten, said the sports community is devastated and demoralized by how the case is being handled.
“We looked up to Agnes. She was not just a champion on the track—she was a role model. Today we are asking the courts: why has her death not resulted in any justice? This case should set an example for others. It must show that athletes, women, and all Kenyans deserve protection.”
Cherop said many athletes, especially women, are now living in fear, uncertain whether the system will protect them if they become targets of violence.
Accusations of Corruption and Collusion
Human rights advocate Kimutai Kirui delivered a scathing critique of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and local justice agencies, accusing them of enabling impunity through negligence or corruption.
“There is a symbiotic relationship between the perpetrator, the prosecutors, and the courts—especially in Uasin Gishu County,” Kirui said. “This is a murder case. Yet the suspect was given cash bail, which gave him a clear path to escape. If the bail had been tied to a title deed as surety, he could not have disappeared.”
Kirui also questioned why warrants of arrest have not been enforced. “We have officers who can travel across the country to arrest suspects. Why haven’t they tracked down someone who killed a global athlete? Is it because the system has been compromised?”
He demanded that the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) be summoned to court to explain the inaction, and called for full protection of Tirop’s family and all witnesses.
What Happens Next?
The case, which has now seen four adjournments, has been rescheduled for hearing on July 23, 2025. The family and their supporters say they fear the suspect may never be brought to justice unless immediate, decisive action is taken.
Agnes Tirop’s death sparked outrage both nationally and internationally, with calls for stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms to combat femicide. However, for her family and friends, those calls remain unfulfilled promises.
As the sun set on the steps of the Eldoret Law Courts today, one thing was clear: those who knew and loved Agnes Tirop are determined not to let her memory fade—or her killer go unpunished.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Mercy Jepkurui. “And for Agnes Tirop, justice has already been delayed for far too long.”
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