Three suspects in killing of MTRH pharmacist charged

The suspects (from right) Titus Njoroge, Patrick Kinuthia and Jeremiah Njuguna when the appeared before court in Eldoret./MATHEWS NDANYI

Senior Resident Magistrate Odhiambo Gweno./MATHEWS NDANYI

Three suspects linked to the killing of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) pharmacist Robert Rotich in Eldoret two weeks ago have been charged in court with 20 counts of robbery with violence.

The suspects face multiple charges related to a series of robberies targeting several victims in Eldoret, during which they were allegedly armed with an AK-47 rifle.

The suspects—Patrick Kinuthia Mwangi, Titus Njoroge and Jeremiah Njuguna—appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Gweno Odhiambo, where they denied all the charges.

The main charge states that on the night of January 6, 2026, at Illula in Uasin Gishu County, the suspects, jointly with others not before the court and while armed with an AK-47 rifle, robbed Richard Nyongus Rotich of his mobile phone.

During the robbery, the suspects are accused of shooting dead the medic.

On the same day, they are also accused of robbing Valentine Chemjor and Henry Chemjor of mobile phones and other items while threatening to use actual violence. The two are relatives of the late medic.

According to the prosecution, on the night of the incident, Rotich was at his chemist in the Kimumu area when he was informed that his family was under attack by armed assailants.

He reportedly rushed to his home, about four kilometres away, where he was confronted by the attackers and shot dead.

The attackers are said to have terrorised the family while armed with a gun and other crude weapons, robbing them of valuables and cash.

Titus Njoroge was also charged in a separate count, accused of being found in illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle on January 11 at Karara village in Trans Nzoia County. The prosecution said the firearm had been used in robberies linked to the suspects.

“It’s not true, Your Honour,” Njoroge said when the charge was read to him, similar to the other suspects who denied all the counts.

In another count, Titus was charged with raping a victim identified as JMN at Kambi Mwangi village in Turbo Sub-county, Uasin Gishu County.

The prosecution filed an application opposing the release of the suspects on bail, arguing that one of them is a previous convict and that they had been on the run for a long time.

Magistrate Odhiambo directed that the suspects be remanded at Eldoret GK Prison until February 2, 2026, when the cases will be mentioned.

“We will have a pre-trial conference on February 2, 2026, for further directions,” the magistrate said.

Titus complained to the court that the suspects had been tortured while in custody and alleged that one officer took Sh150,000 from him, which had not been returned.

The magistrate directed the investigating officer to address the complaint.