Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of clinical psychologist Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, giving investigators their first major breakthrough since the shocking shooting that claimed her life in Nairobi.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced on Thursday, July 30, that the two persons of interest are currently in custody and are being interrogated by homicide detectives as efforts to uncover those behind the killing intensify.
Investigators have also searched premises linked to the suspects and recovered several exhibits that are now undergoing forensic analysis.
Detectives hope the evidence will help establish what happened before, during and after the attack that left the respected psychologist dead.
According to the DCI, homicide detectives working alongside specialised forensic and investigative teams have been pursuing multiple leads since taking over the case.
The teams have been conducting witness interviews, analysing forensic evidence and carrying out targeted operations aimed at identifying all individuals involved.
The identities of the two suspects have not been made public. The DCI said the information is being withheld for now to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation and to avoid interfering with efforts to gather additional evidence.
The arrests come a day after Dr Mutiso was shot in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area in what investigators suspect was a planned attack.
Preliminary findings indicate that she had requested an online taxi service before the incident.
Investigators believe she was lured into an ambush near Kenyatta National Hospital. Witnesses told police that a vehicle intercepted the taxi she was travelling in before gunmen riding on a motorcycle opened fire.
Dr Mutiso sustained serious injuries during the attack.She was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment but later died while receiving medical care.
Following the shooting, police officers and Crime Scene Investigation detectives secured the area and collected evidence. Witnesses were also questioned as investigators sought to establish the motive behind the attack and identify those responsible.
The case has taken on added significance after the DCI revealed that Dr Mutiso had previously reported fears for her safety. According to investigators, she had recorded a statement with police indicating that her life was in danger.
The report was still under investigation when she was killed.Dr Mutiso was widely respected in the mental health field. She served as Head of Research at the Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation (AMHRTF), where she led studies focusing on child and adolescent mental health.
The DCI says investigations remain active, with detectives continuing to analyse recovered exhibits, follow fresh leads and work toward establishing the full circumstances surrounding her death.
Add Comment