The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has opened a high-level probe into the fatal shooting of lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu on Lang’ata Road, Nairobi, in what authorities suspect to be a targeted attack.
Mbobu, a prominent Nairobi-based lawyer, was gunned down on Tuesday evening in a drive-by shooting while driving alone to his residence in Bogani, Karen. According to police reports, the attack occurred at around 5:30 p.m.
“After securing the scene, detectives from the DCI Homicide Bureau, supported by experts from the National Forensic Laboratory, carefully examined the scene and collected critical evidence essential to the investigations,” the DCI said in a statement.
The agency assured the public of its commitment to bringing the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice.
“Our investigators are working diligently, employing all available resources and expertise to piece together the events surrounding this incident,” the statement added.
The DCI has appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigations to report to the nearest police station. Members of the public can also contact the agency through the toll-free hotline #FichuaKwaDCI 0800 722 203 or confidentially via WhatsApp at 0709 570 000.
“We appeal for calm during this challenging time and request the public’s cooperation as we work to resolve this case. We are determined to provide the justice that Lawyer Kyalo Mbobu and his loved ones deserve,” the DCI urged.
The directorate also expressed its condolences to the family, friends, and associates of Mbobu.
Details of the Attack
Preliminary police investigations reveal that Mbobu was ambushed while stuck in traffic near Brookhouse School. Security footage shows the assailant and a motorcycle rider trailing Mbobu’s vehicle from Galleria Mall. The duo stopped approximately 40 meters from where the lawyer’s vehicle was stuck.
Armed with a pistol, the gunman approached the driver’s side and fired through a half-closed window, shattering the glass and hitting Mbobu at least three times in the chin and head at close range.
Witnesses say the lawyer’s vehicle rolled forward and collided with a matatu as terrified passengers scrambled for safety. Police recovered three spent cartridges at the scene. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle, reinforcing suspicions that Mbobu was the target of a planned hit.
After the shooting, the gunman sprinted back to the waiting motorcycle. When boda boda riders attempted to pursue them, the gunman fired twice into the air, dispersing the crowd before the duo sped off toward the city centre.
The DCI says more information on the ongoing investigations will be released at an appropriate time.