New Judge Takes Over Agnes Tirop Murder Trial as Fugitive Suspect Remains Missing

New Judge Takes Over Murder Trial of Agnes Tirop

A new judge has taken over the murder trial of slain athlete Agnes Tirop following the transfer of Justice Robert Wananda, who had been handling the case at the High Court in Eldoret. Justice John Chigiti will now preside over the matter and has directed that the hearing resumes on November 3, 2026.

The judge ordered that all previous proceedings be typed and compiled to enable him to familiarize himself with the case before taking over from Justice Wananda. “Once I go through the file, I will proceed with full understanding of the case,” Justice Chigiti said when the matter came up for mention before him.

Before his transfer, Justice Wananda had ruled that the trial could proceed in the absence of the prime suspect, Ibrahim Rotich, who has been missing for more than a year. Detectives have since intensified efforts to trace Rotich, who disappeared after being charged with Tirop’s murder. He vanished after being released on a Sh500,000 cash bail granted by the High Court in Eldoret.

Multiple teams from the DCI have been deployed across the North Rift and other parts of the country in a renewed operation to track him down. Rotich’s disappearance stalled the murder trial and triggered repeated protests by Tirop’s family outside the court premises.

Prior to his transfer, Justice Wananda directed the DCI to trace and arrest the suspect, an order that sparked a fresh manhunt. Sources familiar with the investigations said detectives have combed several locations across the North Rift where Rotich is believed to be hiding.

Tirop’s family, led by her father Vincent Tirop and uncle Daniel Kiptum, has continued to closely follow the proceedings whenever the case comes up in court. The family has accused the Judiciary of mishandling the matter by releasing the suspect 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 said.

Under the constitution, all accused persons are entitled to bond unless compelling reasons are presented, with courts retaining discretion to determine the terms of release. Following Rotich’s disappearance, the Sh500,000 cash bail was forfeited to the state and a warrant of arrest issued against him.

Justice Wananda had also allowed the trial to proceed in the suspect’s absence after an application by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Through prosecutors Lucas Tanui and Clea Mureithi, the state informed the court that detectives had been unable to trace Rotich despite ongoing efforts.

Lawyer Richard Warigi, who represents Tirop’s family, supported the application to proceed with the hearing while efforts to re-arrest the suspect continued. The family says it remains anxious and fears justice may never be realized unless Rotich is found and returned to court.

“We are informed that there are efforts to trace the suspect, but the family will not relax until he is brought back to court,” Warigi said.

Tirop, one of Kenya’s most celebrated long-distance runners, was murdered on October 13, 2021, at her home in Iten. She was found with multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen. Her death sent shockwaves through the sports community and sparked nationwide calls for justice. The ongoing legal battle continues to draw public attention, with many hoping for a resolution that brings closure to the tragic case.