Kandie’s widow to stand trial for murder as co-accused strike deal

The state has withdrawn murder charges against two suspects initially linked to the death of former marathon champion Samson Kandie.

This follows a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution and the two, who will now face lesser charges and serve as state witnesses.

Prosecutor Sidi Kirenge from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) informed Justice Reuben Nyakundi that the plea deal had been reached with Vincent Kiprono and Jamlick Morogit.

Kandie’s widow, Rose Chepkemboi, had been charged alongside the two over the incident that occurred on the night of October 2, 2024, at the family’s Elgon View residence in Eldoret City.

Chepkemboi, a clinical officer and mother of four, denied involvement in the killing of the 53-year-old athlete.

According to the prosecution, two of the suspects had written to the state expressing interest in entering a plea bargain.

“Your honour, we have agreed on the plea bargain and wish to withdraw the charges against the two,” Kirenge told the court.

Justice Nyakundi, who had begun hearing the murder case, scheduled the matter for mention on November 5 to review the plea bargain terms.

“The matter will be mentioned on November 5 for further directions,” the judge said.

The two suspects are expected to face reduced charges of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder, while Chepkemboi will now stand trial alone for the murder charge.

So far, five witnesses, including Kandie’s daughter Vienna Kandie, have testified in court.

In her testimony, Vienna gave an account of events surrounding her father’s death, telling the court that her parents often argued over alleged infidelity.

She recounted an earlier incident when her father handed his phone to Chepkemboi, asking her to verify claims about another woman.

“My mother looked for the number but did not get it. They continued to quarrel, and to me, I believed my father was innocent,” Vienna said.

Vienna told the court that on October 1, 2024, after a heated argument, her father left home, saying he was going to look for peace.

She said she tried to persuade him to stay, but he declined.

The following evening, while at her shop about a kilometre away, Vienna called her mother so they could walk home together.

“My father was strict and never wanted me to get home late. That is why I asked my mother to accompany me,” she testified.

Chepkemboi arrived at the shop around 7:40 pm, and they walked home, arriving at about 8 pm. Vienna said her mother urged her to call Kandie several times, but he did not answer.

When they reached home, they found his car parked in the dark compound. Vienna went inside to switch on the lights but did not find her father. After several unanswered calls, a stranger picked up.

“The man who answered told me to look for my father in the toilet and asked why he had been involved with his wife,” she told the court.

Vienna said she rushed to the toilet and found her father injured, with his hands tied and bleeding. She raised an alarm but said her mother told her not to make noise for the neighbours and insisted they would take Kandie to the hospital themselves.

With the help of two security guards, they placed Kandie in a car and drove him to Top Hill Hospital, where doctors tried to save his life.

Vienna testified that her mother appeared calm during the ordeal, adding that she seemed to make phone calls as medics attended to her husband.

She told the court that her relationship with her father had improved in recent years after earlier misunderstandings within the family.

Justice Nyakundi will review the plea bargain deal on November 5 before giving further directions on the case.