Police vehicle/ FILEThe Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations into the fatal shooting of clinical psychologist and mental health researcher Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, who was shot dead on Wednesday morning in Nairobi's Upper Hill area.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the DCI said homicide detectives supported by forensic experts had taken over the investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.
The agency said it had dispatched police officers and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) detectives to the scene immediately after receiving the report, where they secured and processed the area, recovered forensic exhibits for analysis and interviewed witnesses.
Detectives also visited the medical facility where the victim had been taken after the shooting.
"The DCI conveys its deepest condolences to the family, relatives and loved ones of the deceased during this profoundly difficult time. We stand in solidarity with them in their grief and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to conducting a thorough, impartial and professional investigation aimed at establishing the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident and bringing those responsible to justice," the statement said.
According to the DCI, preliminary investigations indicate that Mutiso had requested an Uber ride before she sustained fatal gunshot injuries under circumstances that remain under active investigation.
The agency said detectives are pursuing several investigative leads, including following up on persons of investigative interest, as they seek to reconstruct the events leading to the shooting.
"The DCI remains committed to conducting a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement said.
The agency appealed to members of the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information, warning that such information could interfere with ongoing investigations.
It also urged anyone with information that could assist detectives to report to the nearest police station or share it anonymously through the #FichuaKwaDCI platform.
The latest statement comes hours after police confirmed that Mutiso had died after being shot while travelling in a taxi in the Upper Hill area.
Earlier, Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said investigators were pursuing leads into what he described as a targeted killing.
Mutiso was the Head of Research at the Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation (AMHRTF) and was widely recognised for her work in child and adolescent mental health, substance abuse, community mental health and the development of culturally appropriate mental health interventions.
Her research focused on improving mental health services for underserved and marginalised communities, particularly young people living in urban informal settlements and rural areas.
She also served as principal investigator and co-investigator in several local and international mental health research projects and co-led Project HOPE, a global health research initiative focusing on homeless people living with severe mental illness in Africa.
The DCI said it will continue updating the public on significant developments in the investigation when it is operationally appropriate to do so.
