Killer Cops: DCI reveals officer who pulled trigger in Dr Mutiso assassination

DCI boss Mohamed Amin displays firearm allegedly used during the murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

The mystery surrounding the brazen assassination of renowned mental health expert Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso has taken a chilling turn after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) named three serving police officers as having allegedly orchestrated the heinous act, with one pulling the trigger.

Two other people are also in custody for their alleged roles in the crime. The rider of the motorcycle that was carrying the assassin and the driver of the Toyota Prado which blocked the taxi Victoria was using shortly before being shot.

This revelation has exposed what investigators describe as a meticulously planned murder syndicate involving rogue officers, hired vehicles and a bitter long-standing land dispute.

In a tense press briefing Friday at the DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road, Nairobi, Director Mohamed Amin said investigators had pieced together forensic, ballistic and intelligence evidence linking several serving police officers to the July 29 killing, with one officer already under arrest while two others remain on the run.

The revelations paint the picture of an execution-style killing allegedly orchestrated by insiders who exploited police resources and expertise to eliminate one of Kenya's most respected psychiatrists.

According to the DCI, the officer who allegedly fired the fatal shot is Police Constable Elijah Kibelion Kimoi, attached to Karinde Police Post under Kikuyu Police Station.

"He is the individual identified as having fatally shot Dr Mutiso," Amin said, adding that he was assisted by IP Kenneth Kipkemboi Sang, the Officer-in-Charge of Nderi Police Post under Kikuyu Police Station.

Inspector Sang, Amin said the evidence collected so far identified him as the link person between the financiers and the operational team, as well as the source of the murder weapon. He is, however, on the run.

"Thorough analysis of the evidence has further established the identity of the officer who pulled the trigger. No. 91232 PC Elijah Kibelion Kimoi, attached to Karinde Police Post under Kikuyu Police Station, has been arrested. He is the individual identified as having fatally shot Dr. Mutiso," Amin stated.

Another officer, PC Bett Kiplangat Collins of Thogoto Police Post, is also on the run after investigators allegedly placed him at the murder scene using forensic evidence.

The DCI says the murder weapon was not sourced from criminal gangs but from within the police service itself.

"The involvement of these rogue officers represents a grave betrayal of the uniform and the public trust. The Directorate will pursue them with the full force of the law," Amin declared.

DCI boss Mohamed Amin displays exhibits a Landcruiser Prado that was allegedly used during the murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

During investigations, detectives recovered a Mini Jericho pistol from Nderi Police Post's armoury. Records allegedly showed that the firearm had been officially issued to Inspector Sang.

"Investigators visited the Nderi Police Post. Upon inspection of the armoury steel box, a Mini Jericho pistol, Serial Number KP 47302127, together with a magazine loaded with 12 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, was recovered among other station firearms," detectives found.

"Scrutiny of the Arms Movement Register established that the firearm had been issued to IP Kenneth Kipkemboi Sang," Amin added.

Ballistic examination later matched the pistol to the spent cartridges recovered from the crime scene and the bullet extracted from Dr Mutiso's body during post-mortem.

"The ballistic report has positively identified this Mini Jericho pistol as the murder weapon used in the fatal shooting of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso," Amin said.

The findings significantly strengthened the prosecution's case  by directly linking a police-issued firearm to the assassination, with investigators saying the killing unfolded with "military-like precision."

On the morning of July 29, Dr Mutiso had booked an online taxi from her residence at Tanga Heights Apartments off Riara Road to the African Institute of Mental and Brain Health in Upper Hill.

As the vehicle approached Mawensi Gardens shortly after 9.20 am, two Toyota Prado vehicles allegedly blocked the road, forcing the driver to slow down.

Moments later, a gunman approached from the rear left side of the vehicle and opened fire at close range.

The terrified driver accelerated through the ambush and rushed the bleeding psychiatrist to Kenyatta National Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead shortly after arrival.

She had sustained three gunshot wounds.

The casket bearing remains of the late D. Victoria Nthunya Mutiso who was shot dead in Nairobi during her burial at her husband's home at Wanzauni village in Mbooni constituency, Makueni County. [John Muia, Standard]

Detectives say CCTV footage, vehicle tracking data and forensic evidence enabled them to reconstruct the assassination within hours.

The investigation also identified Daniel Mwangi Njoroge as the alleged operational coordinator.

According to the DCI, he hired the two Toyota Prado vehicles of registration KDE 400W and KDH 600A used during the attack, coordinated logistics and directed movements of the execution team.

Amin, however, displayed only one of the vehicles in question KDH 600A under investigation.

"He (Njoroge) was the driver of the Land Cruiser Prado registration KDH 600A, which was used to block the Uber vehicle in which the victim was travelling immediately before the fatal shooting. He coordinated logistics, facilitated the movement of the execution team and played a key organisational role in the conspiracy,"

"The owner confirmed that both vehicles were hired out to Daniel Mwangi Njoroge on 27th July 2026 and returned on 30th July 2026. Tracking data placed the vehicles at the scene of the incident," he said.

Tracking records allegedly placed both vehicles at the scene.

Another suspect, Kelvin Ngugi Kinuthia, has been identified as the motorcycle rider who ferried the alleged shooter to the ambush point.

His already impounded motorcycle, the detectives said, had been placed at the crime scene after forensic analysis.

But perhaps the most explosive revelation concerns the alleged motive. The DCI said investigators have established that the murder stemmed from a long-running land dispute involving property in Mlolongo.

According to investigators, Dr Mutiso had lodged a caveat on Land Reference Number 1504/13, a move allegedly viewed as a threat to individuals contesting ownership of the land.

"The elimination of the victim was driven by a long-standing land dispute," Amin said.

The dispute is also the subject of an ongoing land case before the Environment and Land Court.

Suspects in the murder of psychologist Victoria Mutiso, Chris Mulwa and Rose Mulwa before Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo at Milimani Law Courts. [David Gichuru, Standard]

The DCI alleges that Rose Mbithe Mulwa, the former wife of Dr Mutiso's husband, Prof David Musyimi Ndetei, together with her son Christopher Mulwa, conceptualised, financed and directed the assassination plot.

Investigators say the two are the "primary organisers and financiers" behind the conspiracy.

Both remain in custody after the DCI successfully obtained orders allowing detectives to detain them for 21 days as investigations continue.

However, Amin declined to disclose the detailed evidence linking them to the murder, citing the ongoing court proceedings.

He said investigators were constrained by the principle of sub judice.

The DCI also revealed that the assassination may not have been the first attempt on Dr Mutiso's life.

Earlier this month, on July 7, two men riding a motorcycle allegedly attempted to shoot her along Ngong Road near Junction Mall.

She escaped unharmed and reported the incident at Kilimani Police Station before being referred to Riruta Police Station, where investigators say she never completed the report.

Detectives are now examining whether that failed attack formed part of the same murder conspiracy.

The investigation has widened even further.

Amin disclosed that detectives are pursuing intelligence indicating that some suspects in Dr. Mutiso's murder could also be linked to the September 2025 drive-by killing of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu along Magadi Road.

The revelations are likely to intensify scrutiny of the National Police Service, which has in recent years faced growing public concern over rogue officers and misuse of state firearms.