Agnes Tirop's Friends Claim Their Lives Are in Danger

Agnes Tirop posing for a photo at a Diamond League meeting in Stockholm in 2019.
Agnes Tirop posing for a photo at a Diamond League meeting in Stockholm in 2019.
Gettyimages

Following the demise of fallen athlete and 5,000m champion, Agnes Tirop, two more athletes have come out to share their experiences, claiming their lives are in danger.

According to a CGTN report aired on Saturday, November 13, Tirop's friends Ruth Bosibori and Joan Chelimo alleged that they fear for their lives and safety of their children.

In Bosibori's case, the former All-Africa Games 3,000 metres Steeplechase champion pointed out that after the demise of her friend, she could no longer remain silent.

Former athlete Ruth Bosibori celebrates after winning the All Africa 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Former athlete Ruth Bosibori celebrates after winning the All Africa 3000 Metres Steeplechase
WorldAthletics.org

According to the report, Bosibori claims to have lost all of her property and wealth from athletics to her partner who had scammed her out of her sweat. Further, she affirmed that the threat to her life and children is now higher with reports showing a surge in cases of gender based violence in the country. 

"I've been keeping quiet for long but after Tirop's death, I don't think I can keep quiet any longer," Bosibori stated. 

The former athlete, who was also recruited by the Kenya Police in 2007, stated that she was forced to retire from athletics after going broke just three years into her athletics career. 

"All my sweat was taken away by someone who is well known. At the moment, I am struggling to make ends meet," she stated.

Another athlete and one of the late Agnes Tirop's confidant, Joan Chelimo also opted to break her silence by narrating how she lost everything to her former partner, who cleaned her out, six years ago.

According to Chelimo, she only managed to walk away with her baby and her life.

"I was abused, all my athletics earning were taken away and I was one months pregnant at the time but I left. The world knows me as Joan Chelimo but they did not know my story."

"I just want to urge people to leave toxic and insecure relationships," a teary-eyed Chelimo stated.

Chelimo is currently set to make her return to the track as she has began training at her hometown in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.  

Tirop's demise shone a spotlight on violence against women in the country, which the government said had increased since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.

The fallen athlete was found in her bed at her home in the town of Iten, with multiple stab wounds on the neck. Her husband, Ibrahim Rotich, was pursued and arrested as the main suspect in the murder case. 

Recently, a CCTV footage placed Rotich at the scene of the murder with the case still ongoing.

“The CCTV footage is self-explanatory and positive after forensic analysis. It has all the evidence of the scene and the actual act. We believe we have an airtight case and we are good to go with the prosecution,” a detective privy to the investigations stated.

Kenyan athlete Joan Chelimo celebrates after winning the 2018 Prague Half Marathon Champion
Kenyan athlete Joan Chelimo celebrates after winning the 2018 Prague Half Marathon Champion
Joan Chelimo / Twitter
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