Detectives have arrested Ibrahim Rotich, the husband of Olympian Agnes Tirop in connection with her murder.
Olympian Agnes Tirop was found dead on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Police launched a manhunt for Mr. Rotich who is the main suspect in the killing of the Kenyan athlete.
"The prime suspect in the gruesome murder of 25-year-old world 5,000m record holder Agnes Tirop, has been arrested. Ibrahim Rotich, who was in a relationship with the athlete was arrested moments ago in Changamwe, Mombasa county, as he tried to flee to a neighboring country to evade justice.
"Rotich is believed to have killed the two-time World Athletics championships bronze medallist, by stabbing her before going into hiding. Tirop’s lifeless body was found lying on her bed Wednesday morning in Iten, with visible stab wounds on her abdomen," DCI said in a statement.
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A statement by Athletics Kenya indicated that it was the husband who stabbed the athlete.
"Tirop was found dead at their home in Iten after she was allegedly stabbed by her husband," part of the statement by Athletics Kenya read.
File Image of the suspect in police custody
The 25-year-old burst into the national limelight in 2012 after claiming the junior cross country championships. Since then, she has proceeded to represent Kenya on multiple occasions.
In 2015, she became the second-youngest medallist at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in the women's race.
