Tirop murder: Hunt intensified for suspect who jumped bail

Detectives have intensified their search for suspect Ibrahim Rotich who disappeared more than a year ago after he was charged with the murder of athlete Agnes Tirop.

Rotich vanished after being released on a Sh500,000 bail granted by the High Court in Eldoret.

Multiple teams from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have now been deployed across the North Rift and other parts of the country in a renewed operation to arrest him.

Rotich's disappearance has stalled the murder case, prompting repeated protests by Tirop’s family outside the court premises.

The case is also set to be taken over by a new judge following the transfer of Justice Robert Wananda, who had handled the matter for  three years.

Before his transfer, Justice Wananda directed the DCI to trace and arrest Rotich, orders that triggered the latest manhunt by detectives.

Sources familiar with the investigations said officers have combed several locations within the North Rift where the suspect is believed to be hiding.

Tirop’s family, led by her father Vincent Tirop and uncle Daniel Kiptum, has continued to follow up on the case. A mentioned had been set for April 16, 2026.

The family, however, accused the judiciary of mishandling the case 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.

After Rotich disappeared, the Sh500,000 cash bail was forfeited to the state and a warrant of arrest issued against him.

Justice Wananda had also directed that the murder trial proceeds in the absence of the suspect following 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 not succeeded in tracing Rotich.

Lawyer Richard Warigi, who represents Tirop’s family, supported the move to proceed with the trial even as efforts to rearrest the suspect continued.

The family says it remains anxious and fears justice may never be achieved unless Rotich is found.

“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’s family has every court mention and hearing since the case began.

The Kenyan long-distance runner was murdered on October 13, 2021, at her home in Iten. She was found with multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen.