Keypoints:
- Senior lawyer killed in drive-by shooting
- Law Society calls it a ‘predetermined assassination’
- Police vow swift investigation and justice
KENYA is reeling after the killing of Mathew Kyalo Mbobu, a senior lawyer and respected legal scholar, who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday evening.
According to police reports and eyewitnesses, Mbobu was driving near the Lang’ata-Magadi road junction in Karen, an affluent suburb about 10km from the city centre, when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire at close range. Witnesses said multiple shots were heard before the vehicle came to a halt.
A disturbing video circulating online showed his lifeless body slumped over the steering wheel, with the car window shattered by bullets.
Law Society condemns killing
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) condemned the attack, describing it as ‘abhorrent’ and urging police to treat it as a matter of urgency.
‘This crime has all the markings of a predetermined assassination,’ LSK president Faith Odhiambo said in a statement. ‘Too often, advocates have been victimised and targeted for the work that they do.’
The society called for a swift and conclusive investigation, warning that repeated threats against lawyers were undermining the rule of law.
National shock and tributes
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the ‘cold-blooded killing’ had left the country in shock. He remembered Mbobu as a distinguished legal mind who had taught him at university.
‘We expect the police to carry out speedy and thorough investigations to unearth the reason and culprits behind this heinous crime and ensure justice is served,’ Kingi said.
Colleagues and former students also paid tribute, noting his contribution as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi and his influence in mentoring young lawyers.
Influential legal career
Mbobu was widely known for his legal writing and his leadership in sensitive tribunals. He had previously served as chair of the Political Parties’ Dispute Tribunal (PPDT), which adjudicates electoral and political disputes, and the Business Rent Premises Tribunal (BPRT), which resolves conflicts in commercial tenancies.
These positions placed him at the centre of some of Kenya’s most contentious political and business disputes, earning him respect and, at times, controversy.
Police investigation under way
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said officers were pursuing leads and called for public cooperation.
‘We are determined to provide the justice that Mr Mbobu and his loved ones deserve,’ the agency said.
Police urged calm as investigations continued, while assuring the public that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Echoes of earlier assassination
The brazen attack drew comparisons with the April killing of Charles Ong’ondo Were, a member of parliament who was shot dead in Nairobi in similar circumstances. At the time, police described it as a ‘targeted and predetermined’ assassination and charged several suspects.
The striking similarities have deepened fears that politically connected assassinations are re-emerging in Kenya.
National grief
News of Mbobu’s killing dominated national conversation on Wednesday, with Kenyans expressing shock and anger on social media. Many described his death as a blow to the legal profession and a chilling signal of rising impunity.
For a man remembered as both a legal scholar and mentor, the brutal end to Mbobu’s life has left the nation mourning – and demanding answers.
