City lawyer Kyalo Mbobu's car after he was shot dead on Mgadi road, September 9, 2025. /HANDOUTThe murder of lawyer Mbobu Kyalo is among dozens that are left unsolved.
Dozens of suspected murder cases remained unsolved across the country, reflecting a persistent shadow over the justice system in 2025, according to security officials.
Police said the cases were under investigation but acknowledged that many would take longer to resolve because of their complex nature. On average, up to eight murder cases were reported daily, authorities said. While many were eventually solved, several remained unresolved, their files still open and painful questions lingering.
A collage of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu and the the car where he was shot in./FILE
A killing that shocked the nation
Mbobu was shot dead in a traffic jam on September 9, 2025, along Magadi Road. Gunmen riding a motorcycle ambushed him and opened fire before fleeing. At the time of his death, Mbobu was a former chairperson of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and a respected figure in legal and academic circles.
The fatal shooting remained unsolved months later, with police admitting they had not established the motive. Mbobu was widely known for his sharp intellect, expertise in commercial litigation, and his authorship of the widely used textbook, The Law and Practice of Evidence in Kenya. No arrests were made, a reality police said was not unique, describing the case as complex but insisting it was still active.
Investigators recorded statements from his family, former clients, and staff at his law firm. An autopsy revealed Mbobu had been shot eight times, leading to severe injuries and excessive bleeding. Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor said two bullets were recovered from his chest below the arm.
“His spine was severely injured and most of the bullets had entry and exit wounds apart from the two bullets we recovered,” Oduor said.
The search for answers
The Director of the DCI, Mohamed Amin, maintained that the case had not gone cold. Detectives traced Mbobu’s mobile phone records to establish who he communicated with before, during, and after a meeting at a hotel earlier that day. At 5:09pm, Mbobu was captured leaving his office and heading home to his Bogani residence in Karen.
As he drove his grey Toyota Land Cruiser along Magadi Road, the attackers, who had been trailing him, struck near Brookhouse International School. Investigators explored whether his killing was connected to his legal work and examined his recent financial transactions by visiting three banks where he held accounts.
Police also worked closely with his law partners to analyse his client list. Amin appealed to the public for information, assuring Kenyans that detectives from the Homicide Bureau and forensic experts had meticulously examined the crime scene and collected critical evidence.
“We are committed to ensuring that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice,” police said at the time.
Allegations, investigations, and lingering grief
Appearing before the Senate, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that preliminary investigations suggested Mbobu had been entangled in debts owed to shylocks, some allegedly linked to fraudulent dealings.
“Findings indicated he was lured into dubious gold scams and alleged German antique deals that turned out to be fraudulent,” Murkomen said, adding that investigators were piecing together multiple angles.
Two gunmen had ambushed Mbobu, one shooting him repeatedly before the pair sped off towards Galleria Mall. Four spent cartridges were recovered from the scene, while his vehicle was towed for forensic examination. CCTV footage from his law office and from Brookhouse International School was analysed as part of the probe.
Despite following several leads, no arrests were made. Mbobu’s killing sparked outrage within the legal fraternity, with lawyers calling for justice and better protection for professionals handling sensitive cases.
By the end of 2025, his murder remained unresolved, standing as a stark reminder of dozens of other killings that year whose victims’ families were still waiting for closure. In November 2025, Mbobu’s legal team secured a posthumous court victory in one of his cases, a bittersweet moment that underscored both his legacy and the silence left by unanswered questions.
Man shot dead in Maralal robbery incident
In February 2025, a 23-year-old man was shot dead in an attack at a home in Maralal, Samburu County.
This happened in Ngano village, Poro location on Thursday dawn when gunmen raided a home and attempted to steal cows.
The victim identified as Leonard Lendunda had stepped out of their house after hearing commotion from outside when he was shot.
Police said he was shot in the left side of his chest and died on the spot.
The gang then drove off five cows from the compound as an alarm was raised.
Local members of the National Police Reserve heard the gunshots and responded immediately in pursuit of the gang.
Police said the gang drove the animals towards the Opiroi area where the NPR team ambushed them prompting a shootout.
This forced the bandits to escape leaving behind all the stolen animals, which were handed back to the owner.
Police visited the scene, picked up the body of the man and took it to the local mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures.
Police said they are investigating murder in the incident and hope to get the gang behind the attack.
Incidents of banditry have significantly dropped due to measures taken by the government. In 2023, a total of 1,702 reservists were recruited and trained in Baringo, Samburu, Laikipia, Meru, Turkana, and West Pokot.
At least 400 reservists in Elgeyo Marakwet and Isiolo were re-armed to supplement the ongoing security operations in the area.
Two university students found dead in Juja dam
In March 2025, detectives swang into action to investigate an incident in which the bodies of two university students were found in a dam after a suspected drowning incident in Juja, Kiambu County.
The incident happened during a fun day out at a popular spot off Thika Road in the Mugutha area of Juja sub-county.
The victims were students from the nearby Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Technology, police said after retrieving their bodies.
The area, known for its scenic dam and loved by outdoor enthusiasts, is considered particularly dangerous, officials said.
This is because motorists often park on a slope overlooking the water to enable them to have a good view.
Police added that investigations were ongoing to establish how the drowning happened.
Kiambu police boss Doris Kimeli said the victims were two male students aged 21 and 22 who were out for a fun day of swimming at the dam.
The bodies were retrieved from the dam by Kiambu County divers on Sunday, March 2 and moved to the General Kago Funeral Home.
Police warned those venturing there for fun to be cautious as it was not the first time such a tragedy happens at the water.
The recreational site gained media attention in January 2023 when a man and a woman died after their car plunged into the dam.
According to local residents, the couple had been enjoying themselves near the dam when tragedy struck.
Empty alcohol bottles scattered along the banks of the dam suggest the area is a popular partying spot, often frequented by revelers.
After the 2023 drowning incident, the area was fenced off, and a restaurant and bar were set up inside.
Motorists would be charged some Sh100 to access the area, which also provided Wi-Fi to revelers.
This has attracted many to the site. Police said they are investigating the latest incident.
Detectives visited the site as part of the probe into the same. They wanted to establish if there were measures put in place to ensure the safety of those visiting the site.
GSU officer speared to death outside State House
In October 2025, another surprising killing occured, a man attacked and killed an armed police officer manning State House, Nairobi, in a shocking incident.
The assailant used a spear to commit the act outside Gate D, which is usually used by the public to access the State House.
He was on duty at the time of the incident with other colleagues when he was attacked. The spear landed on the left side of the chest, killing him.
The motive of the about 11 am incident was not immediately established.
The officer attached to the General Service Unit’s G Company was pronounced dead on arrival at the Kenyatta National Hospital. He has bled profusely by the time he arrived at the hospital, officials said.
The assailant was arrested at the scene and taken for grilling amid panic. It is not clear if the assailant knew the slain officer. The area where the attack took place is usually a security clearing zone before motorists and pedestrians drive and walk to State House, respectively.
Security was heightened as an alarm was raised by the colleagues of the slain officer. Police said they had a suspect in custody and is under interrogation. He told police he was sent by satan to commit the murder.
The suspect was a Kenyan aged 56. Witnesses said he walked to the scene posing as a member of the street families and carrying a sack. He had stuffed the spear in the sack.
He then hid behind a flower bed and removed it before spearing the slain officer in the chest, witnesses said. By then, the officer and two others were busy checking and clearing a car that was getting into the State House.
Senior police officers led by Kilimani police boss Patricia Yegon, her DCI counterpart Hussein Mahat visited the scene and the hospital where the body lay. They said the suspect is under probe for more on the motive.
Other officials from State House were also present at the hospital. The incident came hours after another GSU officer was strangled and drowned near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after an altercation with a man.
The assailant was arrested fand arraigned and the case is ongoing.
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