By TONY MUSISI
An Eldoret businessman and farmer who was arrested three weeks ago over the death of a senior hotel manager whose body was found near his residence has been released on cash bail.
Resident Magistrate Rodgers Otieno released Allan Kiprotich Tuiyot, alias Saffron, and his co-accused, Evans Ambani, on Sh600,000 cash bail each with one surety of a similar amount pending their trial before the Chief Magistrate’s Court next month.
“I grant each of the two accused persons cash bail of Sh600,000 with one surety of a similar amount each pending their trial on the manslaughter case before the Chief Magistrate on September 8, 2026,” ruled Otieno.
The decision came after the magistrate entered a plea of not guilty in a case in which the two are charged with manslaughter after spending more than three weeks in custody in connection with the death of Peter Liariman Sema.
According to court documents, the two are accused of jointly and unlawfully killing Sema on August 8, 2026, at Kipkorgot area in Ainabkoi Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County.
They both denied the manslaughter charge.
The courtroom was packed with scores of family members, friends and neighbours of the suspects who had turned up to hear the outcome of the bail application.
The two were among five suspects arrested by detectives attached to Naiberi Police Station over the death of the hotel manager in circumstances that investigators suspect could be linked to a love triangle.
Three other suspects, including Tuiyot’s estranged wife, Betty Jeptoo, were released by the magistrate after the court heard that they were not at the scene when the incident occurred.
Jackson Sifuna and Fredrick Seroney were also freed after the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence linking them to the death.
The deceased’s body was found near Kipkorgot Trading Centre, a few metres from his vehicle and close to the businessman’s home along the busy Eldoret-Eldama Ravine highway.
Investigations by the investigating officer, Erci Ruto, established that the deceased’s Toyota Axio was parked about 150 metres from where his body was discovered near Kipkorgot Trading Centre.
Sema worked as the chief accountant at one of the leading hotels on the outskirts of Eldoret City.
Tuiyot, who is also a professional hotelier, presented himself at Naiberi Police Station in the company of his lawyer following the incident.
A few hours later, his estranged wife, who works at a supermarket in Eldoret City, also presented herself at the same police station. Both were subsequently detained pending their arraignment in court.
The manslaughter case will be heard before the Chief Magistrate’s Court on September 8, 2026.
