CCTV, phone data trace final hours of slain Nairobi Lawyer Mathew Mbobu

Police have pieced together the final hours of slain Nairobi lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu through CCTV footage, phone records, and eyewitness accounts, as his family and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) push for swift investigations.

According to investigators, as quoted by Citizen Digital,  surveillance from private buildings and public roads has mapped Mbobu’s movements from his office at Chester House to Sagret Hotel, where he arrived at 11:05 am on Tuesday.

He held a three-hour meeting with several individuals who are now considered persons of interest. Receipts and timestamps show the group had lunch worth Sh3,800 before the lawyer left the hotel at 1:45 pm and returned to his office.

At 5:09 pm, Mbobu left Chester House, heading through Wabera Street, City Hall Way, Parliament Road, Uhuru Highway, and Nyayo Roundabout before joining Lang’ata Road and later Magadi Road.

Detectives say the assailants trailed him throughout this route before striking near Boyani, close to his Karen home.

They are believed to have chosen the Magadi Road stretch because traffic slows at that diversion, giving them an ideal chance to execute the attack.

Witnesses told police and the media that the gunmen struck quickly before escaping on motorbikes through the Galleria Mall route.

A witness, Geff Mbuhi, told Citizen Digital, that he thought it was just a motorcycle passing by.

“We first thought it was just a motorbike making some noise, then suddenly we heard screams, someone had been shot.”

Another witness said: “I was following him closely and thought they just wanted to steal his phone, then suddenly I heard it was gunshots.”

The attackers wore masks and helmets, leaving investigators without clear facial identification.

Although the killers fled without stealing anything, the motive for the shooting remains unclear.

The family of the lawyer described him as a loving and peaceful man who did not handle controversial cases.

His brother, James Maluki, also a lawyer, said they are still in shock. “We cannot understand why someone murdered him in such a devastating manner.”

His 86-year-old mother, devastated by the loss, chose to mourn in silence at their Maiani rural home in Kilome, Makueni County.

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The family is awaiting a postmortem at Lee Funeral Home on Thursday and has urged the government to ensure justice.

“We appeal to the government to ensure this matter is investigated to its logical conclusion, because we need to enjoy our freedom of movement, and as professionals, we need to be allowed to do our work without fear,” Maluki said.

Mbobu had served as chairperson of the Political Parties Disputes Resolution Tribunal and was also a lecturer at the University of Nairobi School of Law.

On Wednesday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said it is dedicating all resources to solve the case. “Our investigators are working diligently, employing all available resources and expertise to piece together the events surrounding this incident,” DCI boss Mohamed Amin said in a statement signed by John Marete.

The LSK condemned the killing, describing it as a deep loss to the legal profession.

President Faith Odhiambo announced that advocates will on Friday, September 12, stage a nationwide Purple Ribbon March to honour Mbobu and demand security for lawyers.

The peaceful procession will be held across the society’s eight branches, with Nairobi advocates converging at the Milimani Law Courts and later delivering a memorandum at Vigilance House.

“Too often, advocates have been victimised and targeted for the work that they do. Our security agencies have an immediate duty to act decisively in putting an end to this growing menace,” Odhiambo said.