A prominent Kenyan mental health researcher was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in Nairobi on Wednesday morning, prompting an intensive investigation by detectives seeking to identify those behind the killing.
Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, the director of the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB), was attacked while travelling to work.
The shooting occurred at about 9 a.m. at the junction of Mbagathi Link Road and Mawenzi Road, where witnesses said the assailants appeared to have planned the ambush in advance.
According to preliminary investigations, an Uber vehicle carrying Dr Mutiso stopped near a Toyota Prado that had been stationed at the junction.
Shortly afterwards, a motorcycle carrying three men arrived. One of the suspects is believed to have fired two shots at close range before escaping with the others on the motorcycle, while the Prado sped away from the scene.
The Uber driver immediately rushed the injured scholar to Kenyatta National Hospital’s Emergency Centre in an effort to save her life. However, doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and forensic officers later examined the vehicle at the hospital as they began processing the crime scene.
The car has since been retained as evidence after ballistic experts recovered two spent cartridges from inside it.
Investigators are also analysing mobile phones belonging to both the deceased and the Uber driver as they work to establish Dr Mutiso’s final movements and determine whether there were any communications that could assist the investigation.
One of the key areas under investigation is information indicating that Dr Mutiso had previously reported receiving threats to her life. Police say the complaint was first lodged at Kilimani Police Station before it was transferred to Satellite Police Station under Dagoretti Division for further investigation.
Detectives are now examining whether those reported threats could be connected to the fatal shooting.
“Investigations are at an advanced stage as detectives pursue the assailants, who remain at large,” said DCI Director
Mohamed Amin.
As the investigation gathers pace, the Uber driver remains in police custody and is assisting detectives with inquiries.
Officers are also reviewing CCTV footage from the area to trace the movements of the motorcycle and the Toyota Prado believed to have been used during the attack.
Investigators have further visited Dr Mutiso’s home in Riara, where they interviewed her husband and colleagues in an effort to establish a possible motive behind the killing.
Her body has since been moved to the Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
The killing has shocked many in the academic and mental health community, with investigators now racing to establish who orchestrated the attack and why.
Police say inquiries remain ongoing as they pursue those responsible and seek answers in a case that has raised fresh concerns over targeted killings carried out in broad daylight.
