Barsitei, a marathon runner from Keturwo in Baringo North who relocated to Mexico in 2015 to pursue his athletics career, was arrested in February 2021 and later convicted. He maintains that he is innocent, saying he unknowingly hosted individuals who were later identified by Mexican authorities as criminal suspects.
His family claims the trial was marred by serious procedural shortcomings. They allege Barsitei, who neither speaks nor understands Spanish, was tried without access to legal representation or a qualified interpreter, raising concerns about whether he was able to fully understand the proceedings or effectively defend himself.
According to the family, co-accused persons told the court that Barsitei was not involved in the alleged crime. They further claim that while the others were sentenced earlier, Barsitei remained in custody before eventually receiving an 80-year prison term two years later.
The family, supported by Baringo North leaders, is now calling on Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pursue a formal review of the case through diplomatic channels. They argue that the alleged violations of due process and the right to a fair trial warrant urgent intervention.
Mexican judicial authorities' findings and the full court record have not been presented in the family's account, and the basis upon which the court reached its verdict has not been independently verified. The family hopes the Kenyan government will engage the relevant authorities to ensure the case receives a fair and transparent review.