The widow of celebrated marathoner Samson Kandie has been named by the State as the alleged mastermind behind his brutal killing in October 2024.
State Counsel Kerenge Sidi told the High Court in Eldoret that Rose Chepkemboi Rotich, who is the first accused in the murder of Kandie, allegedly planned the killing because of marital problems.
“She was unhappy in her marriage and sought the help of the second accused who was also a close confidant, to discipline her husband,” Sidi told the court.
She claimed it was not her first scheme to discipline Kandie and that initial attempts had failed, leading her to seek assistance from the two co-accused and others not before the court to discipline the runner.
“He was attacked and beaten on October 3, 2024, and left to suffer and die near a pit latrine at his own home in Elgon View area of Eldoret."
Chepkemoi, along with Vincent Kiprono and Jamlik Morogit have denied the murder charges and Justice Reuben Nyakundi has begun the hearing of the case at the High Court in Eldoret.
Sidi told the court that the prosecution would produce 17 witnesses, including the daughter of the accused, to testify in the matter.
Others who will testify include scenes of crime experts and cyber crime experts, whom Sidi said the prosecution would prove the suspects were linked to the murder.
“The prosecution will provide circumstantial evidence to prove that they were linked to the murder,” Sidi said.
However, lawyer Elijah Momanyi for Chepkemboi said the defense would prove that there was no nexus that exists between her and the death of her husband.
The first four witnesses, Felix Kodhek, Shilla Malakwen, Joshua Nyachae and Alex Wanjala testified before the court, telling how Chepkemoi sought their help to discipline her husband.
Kodhek told the court how he was invited for a meeting at a club in Eldoret with another man and Chepkemoi where she allegedly offered them Sh9,000 to discipline her husband.
“I was given Sh2,000 out of the money, but after we finished the meeting at the club where we also took drinks, I never received any other communication on the matter,” Kodhek said.
Lawyers Oscar Oduor , Emma Oduor and Evans Oduor who are for the defense poked holes in the prosecution's evidence by the witnesses, insisting that there were too many contradicting claims in their written statements and oral evidence before the court.
Senior Counsel Francis Otieno is representing the victims in the case.
Marakwen, who initially worked as a househelp at Kandie’s home but had left, also told the court how she was allegedly approached by Chepkemoi, who complained that her husband was cheating on her with another woman in the town.
“She told me that she wanted me to help her discipline her husband, but I refused and told her I do not know how to discipline such a man,” Malakwen said.
She works as a chicken seller near Telekom House, where she alleged that Chepkemoi had come to see her severally to explain her marital problems.
“I told her that it was good for them to seek help from the church or elders, but she insisted that she wanted him disciplined,” Malakwen told the court.
Later on, she met with Joshua Nyachae, who was a hawker, and while they were talking about the repair of her phone, Chepkemoi arrived and pulled Nyachae aside for a talk whose details she did not know.
Nyachae, who also testified, said Chepkemoi also sought help from him to discipline her husband, and even though he rejected the job, Chepkemoi gave her Sh10,000 as a down payment and asked him who would look for people to discipline the runner.
He said Chekemoi promised him another Sh200,000 if the job was done.
The hearing will continue on June 3 and 4, 2025.
The late Kandie rose to fame for his outstanding performance in marathon races across the world, including the 1999 Berlin Marathon where he set his personal best of 2:08:3.
The 53-year-old former international runner was found in critical condition at his house in Elgon View estate on the outskirts of Eldoret City after he was attacked by unknown assailants.
The deceased athlete was rushed to a private hospital but succumbed to his injuries on October 4, 2024.
