Police Launch Probe into Fatal Shooting of Mental Health Researcher Dr. Victoria Mutiso in Nairobi

By Yvonne Githinji

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have launched a high-level, multi-agency investigation into the fatal shooting of prominent Kenyan mental health researcher Dr. Victoria Nthunya Mutiso in Nairobi.

Dr. Mutiso, who served as Director of the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB), was shot dead on Tuesday morning during her daily commute in what investigators believe was a carefully planned targeted attack.

The shooting occurred at about 9:00 a.m. at the junction of Mbagathi Link Road and Mawenzi Road. According to preliminary investigations, Dr. Mutiso was travelling in a ride-hailing vehicle when it was intercepted.

Investigators say witnesses reported that a Toyota Prado had been parked at the junction before the vehicle carrying Dr. Mutiso arrived and stopped nearby.

“Witnesses described a carefully coordinated ambush, saying a Toyota Prado was already parked at the junction when the ride-hailing vehicle carrying Dr. Mutiso arrived and stopped alongside it,” investigators said.

Moments later, a motorcycle carrying three people approached the vehicle. One of the suspects reportedly disembarked, drew a firearm and shot Dr. Mutiso twice in the head at close range before fleeing on the motorcycle. The Toyota Prado is said to have sped away immediately after the shooting.

The driver rushed Dr. Mutiso to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Emergency Centre, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Crime scene investigators and homicide detectives later processed the vehicle at the hospital as part of the ongoing investigation. During the examination, ballistic experts recovered two spent cartridges from inside the vehicle, which has since been impounded as a key exhibit. Detectives also seized the mobile phones belonging to Dr. Mutiso and the driver to reconstruct their communications and movements before the attack. In addition, investigators are reviewing CCTV footage captured along Mbagathi Link Road and surrounding routes in an effort to trace the motorcycle and the Toyota Prado believed to have been used during the operation.

DCI Director Mohamed Amin confirmed that detectives are actively pursuing several leads as they work to identify and arrest those responsible.

“Investigations are at an advanced stage as detectives pursue the assailants, who remain at large,” said Amin.

A key line of inquiry centres on reports that Dr. Mutiso had previously raised concerns about threats to her life.

According to police sources, she had reported receiving death threats at Kilimani Police Station. The matter was later transferred to Satellite Police Station under the Dagoretti Division, where investigations into the alleged threats were ongoing at the time of her killing. Detectives are now examining whether those earlier reports are directly linked to Tuesday’s fatal shooting.

The killing has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s research, academic and mental health communities, with colleagues describing Dr. Mutiso as a distinguished scholar whose work made significant contributions to mental health research across Africa.

Investigators have yet to establish the motive behind the daylight assassination, and no arrests had been made by the time of publication.