Husband of Slain Athlete Agnes Tirop Arrested Trying to Flee the Country

The husband of slain Kenyan long-distance athlete Agnes Tirop has been arrested in Mombasa county.

Ibrahim Rotich, who is the prime suspect in the murder of the 25-year-old runner, was apprehended in Changamwe on Thursday night as he tried to flee to a neighboring country to evade justice.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Rotich had earlier in the day rammed his getaway vehicle into a lorry at Mlolongo along Mombasa road as he escaped.

He is believed to have killed the two-time World Athletics championships bronze medallist by stabbing her before going into hiding. 

The lifeless body of Tirop was found lying on her bed on Wednesday morning in her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County. The body had visible stab wounds on her abdomen. 

He is being grilled by detectives at Changamwe police station before being arraigned in court to answer to murder charges.

Police had earlier urged Rotich to surrender to authorities to assist in the investigations into his wife’s murder.

Tirop represented Kenya in the 5,000 meters at the Tokyo Olympics two months ago and finished fourth in the finals. Last month, she shattered the women-only 10km world record in Germany, crossing the line in 30:01 to shed 28 seconds from the previous 19-year record held by Morocco’s Asmae Leghzaoui.

Early this month, Agnes finished second in the Giants Geneva 10K race. She won bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships in the 10,000m, and also won the 2015 World Cross Country Championships.