Fresh twist in Agnes Tirop murder case as witness raises claims of infidelity in court

One of the witnesses, John Samoei, informed the Eldoret High Court that the suspect had told him he thought his wife was having an extramarital affair with a soldier in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

He related to the court how, approximately two years prior, he received a call from Rotich asking for an urgent meeting at their Iten residence.

Rotich, according to Samoei, stated that they wanted to settle a domestic dispute over matters that he could not discuss over the phone.

Samoei, a car dealer in Eldoret town, told the court that he has known the suspect for the past 11 years.

He claimed that the suspect introduced him to the late Tirop sometime in 2015, claiming that the renowned runner was his spouse.

He went on to tell the court that Rotich had asked him to speak with Tirop in order to reconcile them over the suspicions about the military officer who is said to have been close to the deceased.

According to Samoei, it was after meeting Rotich in a hotel on the outskirts of Eldoret town that he discovered his friend was going through a difficult time in his marriage to Tirop.

He told the court that he was able to arrange a meeting between Rotich and Agnes at his home in Kesses, where they had supper and worked out their differences.

Rotich, who pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, is said to have committed the criminal offence on October 13, 2021.

The Kenyan international athlete died just a month after breaking the Women's 10 km World Record in Germany.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned to December 15.