Slain Olympian Tirop buried in her home village Kapnyamisa

A sombre mood engulfed Kapnyamisa village in Chesumei Constituency, Nandi County as fallen athlete Agnes Tirop was buried on Saturday.

Thousands thronged Kapnyamisa Primary School grounds to pay their last respect to the slain athlete who was set to celebrate her 26th on the same day she was laid to rest.

At 25, Tirop already had an impressive CV from a short career that spanned just under a decade having already bagged a World Cross Country title in 2015 and two back-to-back bronze medals at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019.

Tirop was found murdered at her house in Iten just weeks after breaking the women's-only 10km world record in Germany.

Mourners including fellow athletes lined up to scatter flowers on a white coffin. A picture of Tirop, grinning and holding up a bronze medal, was placed on top of the coffin.

"For us Kenyans, we have lost a hero," said Hellen Obiri, the women's 5,000m world champion and a mentor to Tirop. "I told her that in 2022, she was to go and defend my titles and represent our country," Obiri said, her eyes shining with tears.

Police arrested Tirop's husband, Ibrahim Rotich, in the coastal city of Mombasa last week, and he has been arraigned on suspicion of her murder. Neither Rotich, nor his representatives, have made any public comments on the case. read more

Last month, Tirop smashed the women-only 10km world record in Germany. She won bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships in the 10,000m.

Tirop grew up in a humble farming family in the Kenyan highlands in Nandi County. Her talent for running became apparent in fourth grade, when she won a cross-country race and she soon entered into and won international juniors races. Her career had been on the rise ever since.

After her killing, police found in her home an athletics trophy that she had yet to unwrap.

"A disciplined, polite athlete... I do not know. I do not know what to say," said coach Julius Kirwa.

Led by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang the leaders present at the ceremony urged the government to ensure Tirop's wealth registered under her estranged husband's name be transferred to her parents.

"The government can repossess all the wealth that belonged to Agnes even as the case continues, " said Nandi Senator, Samson Cherargei.

"I think the suspect should just surrender what does not belong to him and let the family of Agnes benefit from her wealth," said Sang.

"The family of Agnes must get what belonged on Agnes. According to law the suspect should not benefit of any property from the deceased," said Elgeyo Marakwet senator.