At 45 years of age, Richard Rotich was used to a routine in his work schedule, and 6th of January, 2026, was no different, as he rounded up the last few hours at his chemist, serving customers. Until a distress call shattered the peaceful evening.
On the other end of the phone was his family, crying for help and informing him that armed robbers had invaded their home.
One of the customers at Richard’s pharmacy, Mathew Yatich, overheard the conversation. The two immediately rushed to Richard’s home in an attempt to save his family. It was during this desperate dash that Mathew, who later became a key witness, says the police failed them.
“We encountered a police vehicle. Richard was driving ahead of me since he knew the way. He tried to alert the officers that his home was being raided by thugs,” Mathew said.
According to Mathew, the officers ignored their pleas, forcing the two men to proceed with the rescue mission on their own.
Richard’s wife, Valentine Rotich, says that when her husband arrived at the home compound and began calling out, the assailants heard him and confronted him.
Mathew, who was standing next to Richard, says the deceased was holding a club and appeared ready to confront the attackers when he suddenly heard a gunshot and saw Richard collapse to the ground, prompting him to dive for cover beneath his vehicle.
Leaders from the North Rift region have since criticised the reported response of the police, describing the incident as a tragic failure that led to Richard being killed in cold blood.
Police, however, have responded by stating that allegations of negligence against the officers involved will be investigated. Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Eddyson Nyale confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing, and that an AK-47 rifle and 10 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
“We managed to recover the firearm that was used. This weapon has been on the loose and has been used to commit heinous crimes across several counties,” Nyale said.
The community is now grappling with troubling questions about how the suspects managed to evade police while moving from county to county committing violent crimes. Meanwhile, Richard’s family is struggling to come to terms with his death and to support his young children, as he was the family’s sole breadwinner.
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