Key suspect in murder of ex-marathoner jailed for six years after plea deal

Jamlick Murgit (C), who has been jailed for six years over the murder of athlete Samson Kandie. He with other suspects Vincent Kiprono and Kandie’s widow Rose Chepkemboi./HANDOUT

A key suspect linked to the killing of former marathoner Samson Kandie has been sentenced to six years in jail after entering a plea bargain with the state.

Jamlick Murgit pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of conspiracy to murder and was handed the sentence by Eldoret senior principal magistrate Peter Areri, who formally adopted the plea deal reached between Murgit and the prosecution.

According to the charge sheet, Murgit conspired with others to kill Kandie at Elgon View Estate in Kesses subcounty, Uasin Gishu county, on October 3, 2024.

“Having pleaded guilty to the offence, I sentence you to serve six years in jail,” magistrate Areri ruled.

As part of the plea agreement, Murgit forfeited his right to appeal and will now testify as a state witness in the murder case against Kandie’s widow, Rose Chepkemboi.

He had initially been charged with murder at the High Court alongside Chepkemboi and another suspect, Vincent Kiprono.

Kiprono has also reached a plea bargain with the state and will face the lesser charge of manslaughter. His case is scheduled for mention on December 8 in the High Court.

Two weeks ago, state prosecutor Sidi Kirenge informed trial judge Justice Reuben Nyakundi that Murgit and Kiprono had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions expressing their desire to pursue plea negotiations.

With the two co-accused now turning state witnesses, Chepkemboi will stand trial alone for her husband’s murder.

Five witnesses—including the couple’s daughter Vienna—have testified.

Justice Nyakundi is expected to set a new hearing date for the case.

Vienna earlier painted a picture of a troubled home, telling the court her family had lived in turmoil for years due to constant quarrels between her parents over allegations of infidelity. She said her mother repeatedly accused Kandie of having an affair, claims he consistently denied.

“I always heard them quarrelling, with my mother claiming our father was having an affair with another woman,” Vienna testified, adding that Chepkemboi once searched Kandie’s phone for the alleged woman’s number but found nothing.

The tension escalated on October 1, 2024. After a heated argument, Kandie walked out of the house, telling Vienna he was leaving “to look for peace which he could not find at home.” She begged him not to go, but he insisted.

The following day, Vienna was at her shop about a kilometre away. As darkness approached, she called her mother so they could walk home together, explaining that her father disliked her getting home late.

Chepkemboi arrived at the shop at 7.40 pm, spoke briefly with the landlord, and they left for home, arriving at 8 pm.

Along the way, Chepkemboi repeatedly urged Vienna to call her father, but he did not answer.

When they reached home, they found Kandie’s car in the compound but there was no light in the house.

Vienna ran inside and switched on the lights but found no sign of him. She called again, and this time, someone else picked up.

“The man who picked the call told me to look for my father in the toilet and asked me why Kandie had been messing around with his wife,” she told the court.

Vienna sprinted to the outdoor toilet, where she found her father tied up, his head swollen, bleeding from the eyes and writhing in pain. She screamed for help, but according to her testimony, her mother told her to stop making noise for the neighbours and insisted they would take him to hospital using their car.

Kandie was still conscious, though struggling. Vienna said her mother asked her to fetch water and gave it to him while she (Vienna) tried to call a nurse relative for an ambulance.

Two watchmen helped them carry Kandie to the car before rushing him to Top Hill Hospital, where he was taken to the emergency section. Vienna claimed her mother appeared “happy” as medics fought to save his life.

“I even saw her smiling while making calls, and at one time, I heard her saying that Kandie had received a thorough beating from God,” she said.

“I was surprised because everyone was sad, but she looked happy.”

Vienna also told the court she had once had a strained relationship with her father because her mother repeatedly portrayed him as a bad person. But in secondary school the two reconciled and rebuilt their bond—a bond that lasted until Kandie’s death.