Police have made a major breakthrough in the daylight assassination of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, a prominent clinical psychologist and Director at the Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health.
Mother and son, Rose Mbithe Mulwa and Chris Mulwa, were arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi in connection with the cold-blooded murder.
Dr Mutiso was shot dead during her morning commute; she was traveling in a taxi when the vehicle reached the junction of Mbagathi Ring Road and Mawensi Road in Upper Hill.
According to witness statements provided to investigators a SUV had been idling at the junction shortly before the taxi arrived, as the taxi drew alongside the SUV, a motorcycle carrying three men pulled up to the vehicle, it was then that one of the riders opened fire, discharging two shots directly at Dr Mutiso, who was seated in the rear passenger seat.
Both the motorcycle and the idling SUV sped off immediately after the shooting.
The cab driver rushed Dr Mutiso to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Emergency Centre, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Her body was subsequently moved to the KNH morgue pending an autopsy.
Trailing the threats
Homicide detectives and forensic specialists from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters have centered their investigation on a trail of prior threats reported by the deceased.
Before her death, Dr Mutiso had formally lodged complaints regarding threats to her life at the Kilimani Police Station, which were later referred to Satellite Police Station under the Dagoretti Division.
Detectives are analyzing those reports to establish a direct link to the suspects.
Furthermore, investigators are reviewing two alarming safety incidents Dr Mutiso survived in the months leading up to her murder.
First was an alleged attack at her residential home in Mlolongo, secondly a terrifying encounter where an armed man approached her vehicle while she was trapped in traffic.
DCI homicide sleuths are currently processing the suspects as they seek to uncover the motive and identify any remaining co-conspirators behind the execution.
