AGNES TIROP’S HUSBAND ARRESTED FLEEING KENYA

Police detectives have arrested athlete Agnes Tirop’s husband following her gruesome murder at their Iten Elgeyo Marakwet home on Wednesday, October 13.

Ibrahim Rotich, who is the prime suspect in the murder, was arrested in Changamwe, Mombasa County on Thursday, October 14.

A statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) indicated that Rotich was trying to flee to a neighbouring country.

Before his arrest, the suspect had allegedly rammed his getaway vehicle into a lorry at Athi River along Mombasa Road while trying to evade a dragnet.

“The suspect is currently being grilled by detectives at Changamwe police station, for more details into the murder before being arraigned to answer to murder charges,” reads an excerpt of the DCI statement.

The detectives said that Rotich was suspected to have fatally stabbed the athlete over domestic disagreements.

“Rotich is believed to have killed the two-time World Athletics championships bronze medalist by stabbing her before going into hiding,” added DCI.

Residents in the area told journalists that the 25-year-old and her husband had suffered protracted domestic wrangles for a while.

They suspected that Tirop had gone to take her belongings from the husband’s house when she was stabbed to death.

The star athletehad just become the world record holder last month after winning the 10km road race. She clocked 30:01 during the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

While mourning the deceased, President Uhuru Kenyatta called on the National Police Service to track down and apprehend the criminals responsible for her murder and bring them to book.

He prayed for God’s grace and calm for her family, friends, supporters, and the athletics fraternity, as they come to terms with the athlete’s shocking death.

“It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that we’ve lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years had brought our country so much glory through her exploits on the global athletics stage including in this year’s 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” he stated.

By Kenyans