'Who did this?' -Kenyan runner accuses police of altering assault case after losing pregnancy

Police in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, have come under scrutiny after a 24-year-old amateur distance runner accused them of altering her statement in a case where she was allegedly assaulted by fellow athletes, leading to the loss of her 12-week pregnancy.

Caren Jepkoech had filed a complaint against her colleagues, claiming they attacked her at her rental house in Iten Town.

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However, she was shocked to discover that the statement presented in court was different from what she originally recorded at the Iten police station.

“I did not read the statement; neither did I sign it as presented in court. I am wondering who did this,” she said as per Nation.

Jepkoech alleges that critical details, including the names of witnesses she had mentioned, were deliberately omitted.

She also claims words she never used were inserted into the official statement.

Jepkoech further revealed that she was not allowed to read or sign the original statement before it was submitted to court.

Following her protest, the State Counsel at the Iten Law Court ordered the police station to amend the statement accordingly.

According to the charge sheet, Jepkoech was attacked on February 18, 2025, at her house in Keiyo South by a group of young female athletes under unclear circumstances.

The court heard that the prime suspect, Hyleen Jeptoo, along with other individuals not present before the court, assaulted Jepkoech with kicks and blows, inflicting severe injuries on her lower abdomen, chest ribs, head, and right eye. A medical report confirmed that the brutal attack led to her miscarriage.

Jeptoo denied the charges before the Iten Principal Magistrate on February 25, 2025, and was released on a cash bail of Sh10,000.

The case is scheduled for mention on March 10, 2025, with the trial set to begin on March 19, as police continue searching for the other suspects involved in the attack.

The embattled runner has also disclosed that she has been receiving threats from her alleged attackers, further worsening her plight. A Good Samaritan who had been providing her with shelter withdrew his support, allegedly due to incitement fueled by local athletic rivalries in Iten Town.

“This is not the first time these athletes have attacked me. They have interfered with my training on several occasions, forcing me to pull out of both local and international races,” she lamented.

Jepkoech, who is an orphan, has since been rescued by the Tirop Angels Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting women facing abuse. She claims that her assailants have repeatedly exploited her vulnerable situation, subjecting her to mistreatment and intimidation.

The case has sparked widespread concerns among athletes in the region, with many calling for justice to be served and for authorities to ensure Jepkoech’s safety.

Iten, often regarded as the home of world-class athletes, has in recent years been marred by cases of gender-based violence (GBV), raising alarm over the safety of female runners in the training hub.