Witnesses: Murdered athlete's wife hired men to punish him for affair

Caption Witnesses have told the High Court in Eldoret that the wife of slain athlete Samson Kandie hired individuals to punish him over suspicions of infidelity. In the ongoing murder trial, three witnesses testified before Justice Reuben Nyakundi that Rose Chepkemboi Rotich paid people to confront the retired athlete, believing he was involved with a commercial sex worker. They claimed Rotich was determined to "teach him a lesson." The court heard that Rotich, a clinical officer, approached an Eldoret hawker and her former house-help, negotiating with them to arrange an attack on her husband. Joshua Nyanchae, the first witness to take the stand, told the court that Rotich promised a group of men a total of Sh200,000 to "discipline" her then 53-year-old husband. Nyanchae testified that Rotich initially gave him a deposit of Sh10,000 but later changed her mind and called off the plan. "Madam Rotich asked me to find people who would discipline her husband-she wanted them to beat him. I told her it was a difficult task. We disagreed on the deal, and I kept the down payment. I never heard from her again until I learned about her husband's murder," he said. Nyanchae added that he was introduced to Rotich by Sheila Malakwen, a fellow hawker who had previously worked as Rotich's house help. Nyanchae was initially arrested as a suspect in the murder before being turned into a state witness. Another prosecution witness, Felix Kodek, provided similar testimony. He claimed that Rotich approached him and two other men, including one of the accused, asking them to discipline her husband based on her suspicions of infidelity. "We met Madam Rotich at a restaurant in Eldoret town, where she bought us drinks as we discussed how to carry out the mission. She later gave us a Sh9,000 deposit, but I eventually chose to withdraw from the mission," Kodek stated. Malakwen also testified, saying she knew both Rotich and Kandie well from her time working in their household. She explained that Rotich frequently visited her new workplace in Eldoret town, where she sells chicks, and began expressing concerns about her husband's alleged extra-marital affairs. Additionally, Alex Wanjala, a former gardener for Kandie, testified that his employer had reported receiving threats from an unknown individual who threatened to kill him. In the trial, three individuals, including Kandie's wife Rotich, her co-accused Jamlick Kiptoon, and Vincent Kiprono, are charged with murder. The incident occurred on October 4, 2024, at his Elgon View residence on the outskirts of Eldoret City. Police reports indicated that Kandie's hands and legs were tied, his body severely battered, and his phone was stolen. More witnesses, including the couple's daughter Vienna Kandie, are expected to testify on June 2. Kandie is celebrated for winning the Sapporo Marathon in 2002 and the Vienna Marathon in 2004. He also participated in the Berlin Marathon in 1999, where he set his personal best time of 2:08:31.

Witnesses: Murdered athlete's wife hired men to punish him for affair

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Witnesses: Murdered athlete's wife hired men to punish him for affair

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