The pursuit of justice for prominent Nairobi City lawyer Kyalo Mbobu, tragically gunned down on September 9, 2025, has taken a dramatic turn with the release of three key suspects. Eric Muhia, Paul Mbugua, and Georgia Wainaina, initially arrested as persons of interest, were freed on September 13 after forensic, ballistic, and alibi checks conclusively cleared them of any involvement in the high-profile assassination.
Mbobu, a 55-year-old legal luminary and former chair of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, was shot multiple times through his driver’s window on Magadi Road as he drove to his Karen home. Police reports indicate two men on a motorcycle trailed his vehicle before one approached on foot to carry out the execution-style killing. Nothing was stolen from the scene, leading detectives to label the attack as targeted.
The initial arrests of Muhia, Mbugua, and Wainaina came days after the murder, with police linking them to the incident before completing their investigations. They were held while detectives conducted extensive forensic phone analysis, ballistic tests on a recovered firearm, and verified their alibis. However, these efforts ultimately exonerated the trio.
Lead defence lawyer Musa Maulid vehemently criticized the police’s handling of the case, stating, “The arrest and detention of Eric Muhia, Paul Mbugua and Georgia Wainaina was malicious, unjustified and a reckless abuse of police powers.” He further added, “It is regrettable that the police dragged the names of honest, law-abiding citizens through the mud before conducting proper investigations.” Maulid emphasized that the forensic and ballistic tests, coupled with independently verified alibis, confirmed their innocence from the outset. “These findings confirm what has been true from the very beginning: they had no involvement in this crime,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Investigators are particularly interested in an unidentified individual seen talking on his phone as Mbobu walked past, believing this person may hold critical clues. Detectives also confirmed that two other suspects, whose vehicles have been impounded for forensic analysis, were among the last people Mbobu met and shared a meal with on the day of his death.
Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor revealed that Mbobu died from excessive bleeding and severe injuries, having been shot eight times. Two bullets were recovered for ballistic analysis, with Oduor noting that the shooting was intentional and aimed to kill. Mbobu’s brother, James Maluki, a fellow lawyer, has urged the government to conduct a thorough probe to ensure justice for his slain sibling.
