The High Court in Eldoret has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to execute a warrant of arrest issued against Ibrahim Rotich, the main suspect in the murder of long-distance athlete Agnes Tirop, after he absconded court proceedings for the third time.

Justice Robert Wananda, who is presiding over the matter, criticised the police for laxity, noting that they had failed to arrest Rotich since the warrant was issued on 18 March.

Appearing before the judge to explain whether the accused had been reporting to Eldoret Police Station on a weekly basis, as mandated in his bail conditions, Eldoret Central OCS Chief Inspector James Lenaso told the court that Rotich had never reported to him.

Lenaso said he had been deployed to the station in August last year and was unaware that the suspect was required to report every Monday.

“I have never seen the accused person. I do not know him, as he has never reported to me at any given time,” Lenaso stated.

The OCS further claimed he only received the order to arrest Rotich on 1 April, despite the warrant having been issued on 18 March.

“The delay witnessed here is a result of laxity by the officers concerned. This court orders the DCI to take up the matter and arrest the accused person, who is out on bond and has absconded court. I grant more time to the DCI to enforce the warrant of arrest,” ruled Justice Wananda.

The judge also directed that the Sh500,000 cash bail Rotich had deposited be forfeited to the State.

Corporal Johnstone Sanga, the investigating officer in the case, also took to the stand, revealing that the warrant had yet to be executed and that more time was needed.

Sanga claimed that he, along with his fellow officers—Corporal Philip Ndeto and Sergeant Juliet Kimwei—was unaware of Rotich’s release on bail, and only learnt of his disappearance after the warrant was issued.

“I was surprised to see the accused person out on bond,” Sanga told the court.

Justice Wananda questioned how the investigating officer could be unaware of the development.

“You didn’t bother to find out why he was out, or read a copy of the ruling? I find this out of place,” the judge remarked.

Sanga further stated that he only became aware of the bond conditions after learning that Rotich had failed to appear in court.

“None of us checked the court orders. We filed an affidavit to oppose bail, but we did not follow up on the outcome. We do not have a copy of the ruling. As for the efforts made to apprehend the accused, I pray not to disclose my progress. If granted more time, I will brief the court on the next mention date,” he explained.

The court was told that Rotich’s bail conditions required that he not leave or travel outside Uasin Gishu County until the case was heard and determined.

Rotich’s lawyer, Ngigi Mbugua, argued that had the investigating officer been more vigilant, the situation would have been different.

Last month, during a session dedicated entirely to hearing the case, the lawyer informed the court that he was unaware of his client’s whereabouts. He said he had been unable to reach Rotich by phone or in person, and had received information that the suspect had vacated his known residence in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, with his phone remaining inactive.

He added that a missing person report had been filed at Eldoret Police Station and a search was ongoing.

In November 2023, Rotich, 45, was released on a bond of Sh400,000 with two sureties of a similar amount, or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000, after filing a second application for release. He had spent two years in custody before the court finally granted his release.

Rotich first failed to appear for the hearing of the murder case on 27 February 2025.

So far, 10 witnesses have testified in the case, with 14 more expected to give their testimony.

Rotich has denied the charges of murdering his estranged wife in October 2021.

Tirop, who met her tragic death aged 25, was a double bronze medallist in the 10,000m at the World Championships and a record holder in the women’s 10km road race at the Adizero Road to Records event held in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

She also competed in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics in the 5,000-metre race, where she finished fourth.

Months later, on 13 October 2021, she was found dead at her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, with stab wounds on her neck.