Witnesses on Tuesday told the High Court in Eldoret how a suspected love triangle and marital dispute could have led to the killing of former marathon athlete Samson Kandie.
The first four witnesses testified before High Court judge Reuben Nyakundi in the case in which Kandie’s widow, Rose Chepkemboi, is among three suspects who have been charged with the murder of the runner on October 3, 2024.
Witnesses Felix Kodhek, Shilla Malakwen, Joshua Nyachae and Alex Wanjala told the court how Chepkemboi sought their help to discipline her husband because he had an affair with another woman in Eldoret.
Kodhek told the court how he was invited for a meeting at a club in Eldoret with another man and Chepkemboi, where she 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,” he said.
Defence lawyers Elijah Momanyi, Oscar Oduor, Emma Oduor and Evans Oduor poked holes in the prosecution evidence, insisting there was too much contradicting claims in their written statements and oral evidence before the court.
Senior counsel Francis Otieno is representing the victim in the case.
Malakwen, who initially worked as a house help at Kandie’s home but had left, told the court how she was approached by Chepkemboi who complained her husband was cheating on her with another woman in the town.
“She told me 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,” she said.
Malakwen works as a chicken seller near Telekom House where she said Chepkemboi went to see her several times and explained her marital problems.
“I told her that it was good for them to seek help from the church or elders but she insisted she wanted him disciplined,” Malakwen said.
She told the court that later on, she met with Nyachae, who was a hawker, and while they were talking about repairing her phone, Chepkemboi arrived and pulled Nyachae aside for a talk whose details she did not know.
Nyachae said Chepkemboi also sought help from him to discipline her husband. He said although he rejected the job, Chepkemboi, through Malakwen, gave him Sh10,000 as a downpayment and asked him to look for people to discipline the runner.
He said Chepkemboi promised them another Sh200,000 once the job was done.
All the witnesses, however, told the court they did not take part in the attack on the athlete, despite taking the money.
The state has termed Chepkemboi as the mastermind of the killing in October last year.
Chepkemboi along with Vincent Kiprono and Jamlik Morogit have denied the murder charges.
State counsel Kerenge Sidi told the High Court in Eldoret that Chepkemboi, 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 said.
“He was attacked and beaten on October 3, 2024, and left to suffer and die near a pit latrine at his own home in the Elgon View area of Eldoret."
Sidi told the court the prosecution would produce 17 witnesses, including a daughter of the accused, to testify in the matter.
Others who will testify include scenes of crime experts and cybercrime experts.
Lawyer Momanyi for Chepkemboi said the defence would prove no nexus exists between her and the death of her husband.
The hearing will continue on June 3 and 4 this year.
