A 25-year-old man has chillingly confessed to luring a motorcycle rider to his death before strangling him and discarding his body in a remote Baringo forest.
Dan Kiprotich, a fugitive already wanted for a string of murders in Trans Nzoia, was arrested on Sunday in Eldoret while in possession of a stolen motorcycle belonging to the slain rider, Kevin Kibichii.
Authorities revealed that last Thursday, Kiprotich spent time at the popular Cheploch Gorge with Kibichii and his girlfriend, before the trio made their way towards Kabarnet town.
Upon reaching the town, Kiprotich offered to fuel Kibichii's motorcycle and persuaded him to ferry him to Kabartonjo, where he claimed his girlfriend was waiting.
However, the journey turned deadly. According to Baringo County Police Commander Julius Kiragu, Kiprotich confessed to ambushing Kibichii at a thicket en route, strangling him to death, and throwing his body off a cliff hidden deep within Baringo North's rugged terrain.
On Monday, Kiprotich led detectives to the grim scene where he allegedly dumped Kibichii's body before fleeing with the stolen motorcycle.
"He was arrested with the stolen motorcycle in Eldoret and taken to the police station, where he confessed not just to the theft but also to the murder of the owner," said Kiragu.
Investigations have since revealed a disturbing pattern. Kiprotich would pose as a customer seeking a ride, only to later kill unsuspecting riders and make off with their motorcycles.
Authorities are probing whether he is part of a wider syndicate targeting motorcycle operators across the North Rift.
The suspect is linked to at least three murders in Endebess and two more in Cheptais, where similar methods were reportedly used to lure, kill, and rob the victims.
"This was not an isolated case. In Trans Nzoia, he similarly posed as a client before attacking and stealing motorcycles," Kiragu added grimly.
Police are yet to establish whether the killings are connected to ritualistic practices or are purely profit-driven crimes.
Kevin Kibichii, who hailed from Pemwai in Baringo Central, was last seen alive on 17 April while ferrying Kiprotich.
His family reported him missing, along with his motorcycle, on Saturday, triggering a police search that ultimately led to the suspect's arrest.
Juma Rajab, chairperson of the Singoro Motorcycle Association, voiced growing fears over the security of riders in the area.
"Tragically, one of our own has been killed. His body now lies in the morgue. Our security is at serious risk, as criminal cartels have infiltrated the motorcycle business, making it harder to distinguish between genuine and malicious clients," Rajab lamented.
Alex Kemboi, a fellow rider who had joined the search efforts for Kibichii, expressed his heartbreak over the grim outcome and called on security agencies to boost their visibility in towns to prevent further loss of life.
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