- The burial of Martina Chepkemoi Ruto, a teacher at Lalagin Secondary School, has been postponed pending police investigations.
- DCI officers have confirmed that the body bore five stab wounds and that detectives are investigating suspected foul play.
- KUPPET officials have demanded swift investigations, as unconfirmed reports also allege she may have been sexually assaulted before her death.
The burial of Lalagin Secondary School teacher Martina Chepkemoi Ruto has been postponed as police continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Chepkemoi, 40, was scheduled to be buried on Saturday, September 12, 2026, but her family has announced that the ceremony will not proceed as planned. In a notice issued with the permission of the family, relatives said the postponement was necessary to allow relevant authorities to finalise investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death. “The family will communicate the new burial date once the relevant authorities give the go-ahead,” the notice said.
Chepkemoi was a Kiswahili and History teacher at Lalagin Secondary School in Bureti Sub-County, Kericho County, where she was also handling a Form class preparing for national examinations. She was also a mother of four children.
She was reported missing on August 26, 2026, after leaving home in Abosi for her workplace. Her disappearance prompted relatives, colleagues and members of the public to launch efforts to trace her whereabouts. The search ended tragically when her body was recovered from the Kimugu River on the outskirts of Kericho town. Police confirmed that the body had injuries to the chest and said they suspected foul play. Reports indicated that the body had five stab wounds to the chest. It was subsequently taken to the Kericho County Hospital mortuary as detectives began investigations to establish what happened to the teacher and identify those responsible.
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Kericho East Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer Kennedy Apindi confirmed that officers had recovered the body and commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death. Teachers’ representatives have also demanded swift investigations and justice for their colleague. KUPPET officials Clara Chebet and Johna Korir called on detectives to establish who killed Chepkemoi, why she was killed and how her body ended up in the river.
Questions have also emerged over events in Chepkemoi’s personal life before her disappearance. Reports indicate that she had sought a transfer from Lalagin Secondary School and had confided in people close to her about difficulties in her marriage. However, investigators have not established publicly whether those circumstances were connected to her death. There have also been reports alleging that she may have been sexually assaulted before her death. The allegation has not been officially confirmed by police and remains subject to investigation.
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The family has now appealed for understanding and patience as they await clearance from the relevant authorities before announcing a new burial date. They apologised for any inconvenience caused by the postponement and thanked relatives, friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support during the difficult period.
By Jeff Kirui
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