A court in Eldoret has allowed police to detain for two weeks five people, including a couple, arrested in connection with the murder of a top hotel manager.
Resident Magistrate Naima Kirui Chelagat allowed an application by investigators seeking to keep the suspects in custody pending completion of investigations.
“I am satisfied that owing to the serious nature of the crime and the grounds for the application, it is critical that the suspects remain in custody for the period requested,” the magistrate said.
The suspects — Allan Kiprotich, Elvis Ambani, Jackson Sifuna, Fredrick Seroney and Betty Jeptoo — will be detained at Naiberi Police Station.
The magistrate rejected a plea by lawyers representing the suspects to have them released pending investigations.
Investigating officer Eric Ruto told the court that police were probing the murder of Peter Liarin Sema, who worked as a chief accountant at a leading hotel in Eldoret.
Sema’s body was found near Kipkorgot Centre, a few yards from his car and close to a home where investigators suspect he was assaulted.
Ruto said the five were persons of interest in investigations into an offence of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
The offence was allegedly committed on the night of August 6, 2026, at Kipkorgot in Ainabkoi, Uasin Gishu County.
The investigating officer said preliminary investigations showed that Sema’s white Toyota Axio was parked about 150 metres from where his body was found, near Kipkorgot Centre along the Eldoret-Kaptagat road.
Investigations subsequently led police to the homestead of Allan Kiprotich Tuiyot and Betty Jeptoo Bii, the first and fifth suspects, at Tuiyot Farm in Kipkorgot.
Ruto said the two were not at the homestead when police arrived and their mobile phones were switched off. Investigators, however, spotted bloodstains on the veranda of the main house.
Three suspects who were at the homestead were arrested on August 7 to aid investigations.
Kiprotich later presented himself to police accompanied by his lawyer and was arrested, while Jeptoo was also taken into custody.
Ruto said police feared that witnesses and exhibits could be interfered with or that witnesses could be intimidated if the suspects were released on bond or police cash bail.
The DCI requires the two weeks to recover the suspected murder weapon, arrest possible accomplices, record statements from key witnesses and obtain communication data from relevant authorities.
Blood samples collected from the scene are yet to be taken to the Government Chemist for forensic analysis. Police also want time to conduct mental status assessments on the suspects.
Investigators further seek to recover Sema’s phone and other personal belongings, subject recovered phones to forensic analysis and forward the police file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for perusal and advice.
Ruto described the case as complex, citing what he termed the behaviour and lack of fixed abode of some of the suspects.
Lawyer Sunkule, representing Jeptoo, opposed her continued detention, arguing that she was not at the scene of the incident and had been in hospital attending to a sick child.
He urged the court to release her pending completion of investigations.
