BY WINSTONE MUSISI
Family of the slain Kenyan athletic Agnes Tirop can now breathe a sigh of relief after it secured a court order granting them the right to be the administrator of her multi-million estate.
The order was made pending hearing and determination of the case filed by the family at the High Court in Eldoret.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi issued the orders that Agnes’s father, Vincent Tirop, absolute right to be the administrator of her property spread in Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu Counties.
The property include rental houses in Iten town and more than 40 housing units in Kesses area.
A missing car
Other properties owned by the late athlete include a plot and house at Kipkorgot estate on the outskirts of Eldoret town and a car that is yet to be located.
The family spokesman Jeremiah Sawe had alleged that the deceased’s ‘husband’ estranged Emmanuel Ibrahim Rotich, charged with her murder, prior to his arrest was planning to sell some of the property secretly.
“We want to ensure the property is safe, though we are grieving for the loss,” Sawe told Mwnahabari.co.ke in Eldoret town today.
Sawe also revealed that one of the deceased piece of had been sold off for Sh9 million by an unknown person.
The late Tirop’s father, Vincent Tirop lauded the court for helping the family to get justice by acquiring the court order.
40 rental houses
Speaking after meeting tenants in 40 rental housing units in Kesses, Mr Tirop said the court order will help the family start getting the rental income from the houses after appointing a new agent to represent his family.
“Recently, we have been waiting for a court order, and at last we received it on November 15. After receiving the order, we went to
Kesses area where the deceased owns 40 units of rental houses. We have already told the tenants to start paying the rent through our agent as per the court order,” said Mr Tirop.
Mr Tirop claimed that the accused had already received more than Sh200,000 house rent from the 40 units through his agent and he appealed to the government to help the family recover the money.
He said that after receiving the court order, they have now embarked on a mission to recover all property belonging to the deceased.
Sold house for Ksh9 million
He added that they will continue identifying more of the property belonging to the deceased that are yet to be identified, including a
parcel of land in Moiben sub county in Uasin Gishu County.
Mwanahabari.co.ke has learnt that the athlete’s estranged husband, Ibrahim Rotich, the prime suspect in her murder, had so far
transferred most of her property through dubious means.
The athlete’s family claims one of the plots was recently sold at Sh9 million. They now want to obtain a caveat to protect her property, alleging a plot by the suspect to secretly dispose them of.
“Our daughter worked hard to acquire the property. We want to ensure that all her investments are safe,” said Sawe.
Role model to many
Sawe said documents indicate that one of the plots was recently sold at Sh9 million, while a plot and a house in Iten where the athlete was found dead are in the name of Rotich.
Thousands of mourners, among them athletes, coaches and friends turned up at St Michael Kapnyamisa Primary School in Nandi County during her burial last month where they described Tirop as a promising athlete and role model to many.