How detectives narrowed down to cop arrested in murder of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu
Detectives Thursday arrested a police officer in connection with the murder of Nairobi lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu.
Mbobu was trailed and shot dead in his car as he drove to his Bogani residence in Karen in September 2025.
The arrest came after some of the suspects arrested in the murder of psychologist Dr Victoria Mutiso confided to the detectives on the role played by the constable of police attached to Nairobi Area.
Without the constable’s knowledge, the detectives who have been handling the murder picked his official pistol that he had been issued with on the day Mbobu was murdered and sent it for ballistic tests.
On Thursday, the tests turned positive. This prompted police to arrest Constable Julius Cheruiyot over the murder.
Mbobu, a former chairman of Political Parties Disputes Tribunal was shot and killed on September 9, 2025 at about 5.30 pm.
Mbobu had represented Dr Mutiso’s husband, Prof David Ndetei, in legal proceedings.
Dr. Mutiso, a former Director of the African Institute of Mental and Brain Health, was fatally shot on July 29, 2026, in Upper Hill, Kilimani Sub-County, Nairobi, while inside a motor vehicle.
The DCI has also identified a land dispute involving Dr. Mutiso as a possible motive for the killing.
Investigators said the deceased was involved in a dispute over L.R. Number 1504/13, which is the subject of a case before the Machakos court.
Investigators also said Dr. Mutiso had previously reported that someone had attempted to kill her and that she had been followed before the fatal shooting.
The DCI said that on July 7, 2026, Dr. Mutiso reported being confronted by two armed men riding a motorcycle near Junction Mall along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
The men pointed a gun at her but she managed to escape and later reported the incident at Kilimani Police Station.
On Thursday, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin said they had made a breakthrough in the murder of Kyalo.
He said following an intensive and painstaking investigation over the past year, detectives identified and arrested Police Constable Julius Cheruiyot of Nairobi Area, suspected of being the gunman who fatally shot the lawyer.
“As part of the ongoing investigations, defectives today recovered the Ceska pistol that had been issued to the suspect at the time of the incident. Ballistic examination has since confirmed that the firearm was indeed used in the shooting that claimed the life of Lawyer Mbobu. The finding provides a significant forensic breakthrough in the investigation and further strengthens the evidentiary trail being assembled by detectives,” he said.
He added detectives had also established that Inspector Kenneth Sang, who is currently at large, allegedly coordinated the operation in liaison with Rose Mbithe, who is already in police custody in connection with the murder of Dr. Mutiso, who was fatally shot on July 29, 2026 in Upper Hill, Nairobi
The DCI immediately commenced investigations, with specialised teams from the Homicide Directorate, working alongside forensic experts, undertaking extensive investigations to reconstruct the events surrounding the killing.
The arrested police officer remains in custody undergoing processing pending arraignment in court.
The DCI further assured the public that investigations remain active, with detectives pursuing additional leads to establish the full circumstances, motive, planning and execution of the murder.
Insiders said the case had frustrated the team handling it. This was after it emerged the cop linked to the same had used his official gun and returned it to the armory. Ironically, the weapon is among those which have not been tested ballistically as required.
This has renewed calls to have all official weapons tested.
Officials said the detectives were interrogating their colleague for information if there were more accomplices involved in the murder of Mbobu.
Witnesses said the killers were on a motorcycle when they strike and escaped the scene.
In the murder of Dr Mutiso, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved the prosecution of another suspect Kimutai Maritim for her murder, bringing to five the number of suspects set to face murder charges in the case.
Maritim will be charged alongside Rose Mbithe, her daughter Angela Mulwa, her son Chris Mulwa and Police Constable Elijah Kibelion Kimoi.
The five are expected to appear before the High Court on September 29, 2026, for plea-taking following a directive by Justice Alexander Muteti.
Maritim was arrested on August 22 after he allegedly attempted to visit suspects being held at Pangani Police Station.
He was reportedly intercepted while trying to deliver a loaf of bread and a packet of milk to the detainees.
During previous court proceedings, investigators told the court that Maritim was allegedly linked to the planning of the offence and could assist detectives in tracing other suspects who remain at large.
The prosecution has also told the court that three other suspects arrested in connection with the murder are expected to return to court on October 1.
They are Police Constable Collins Bett Kilangat, Pius Muiruri Mbugua and Samuel Karanja Gathoni, who have been detained for 30 days to allow investigators to complete their inquiries.
