MTRH medics protest over death of colleague

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Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital staff staged protests in Eldoret City following the death of a pharmacist known as Richard Rotich.

The medics marched through the streets of the city to the Eldoret Central Police Station and then to the law courts.

Rotich was shot dead last week by armed gunmen at his house near Marura on the outskirts of Eldoret City.

The medic was at his chemist located at Kimumu Market when he was informed that his family had been attacked at about 11 pm on January 7, 2026.

He rushed to his house to rescue his family but was confronted by the gunmen, who shot him dead on the spot.

The MTRH medics, led by Japheth Keittany, who is the branch chairman of the workers’ union KUDHEIHA, and Paul Athing, who is a shop steward, said they were angered by the murder of their colleague.

At the police station, the medics were received by senior security officers led by Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi and DCI boss Daniel Mullen.

“We have come here to the police station to seek justice for our colleague who was shot dead by criminals loitering in this city,” said Keittany.

He said the killing of the medic was the third affecting a member of staff at the hospital in recent years, and they were worried about their safety.

“Our safety is in the hands of the police, and we demand that action be taken to safeguard our lives,” said Keittany.

One of the medics, Kiptis Susy, wondered why police officers, who are armed to protect Kenyans, allow criminals to harass and kill innocent people.

“As medics, we have the syringe, which we use to save lives, and as police officers, I wonder if you were given those guns to use for herding goats,” said Kiptis.

She angrily noted that criminals had been harassing residents in the region for a long time without proper action from the police.

The medics claimed that the deceased met some police officers as he rushed to his house, but the officers declined to intervene and help him during the attack.

Mwanthi said police had already arrested three suspects involved in the murder and that they would be arraigned in court.

“The safety of MTRH staff is our concern because they are part of us here in Eldoret, and I thank you for carrying out peaceful protests,” said Mwanthi.

He said several police officers had been stationed at the hospital for security reasons, and more would be deployed in the region.

The medics handed over a memorandum of demands to the police, calling for increased security patrols in the city to protect residents.