'Runaway' police inspector charged with killing lawyer Kyalo Mbobu

A police inspector who had been on the run has been charged with the murder of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu, more than a year after the advocate was shot dead in what prosecutors say was a planned attack.

Inspector Kenneth Sang appeared before the High Court in Kibera, where he denied the charge.

Prosecuting counsel Gikui Gichuhi told the court that the case would be consolidated with another in which two police officers, alongside Rose Mbithe Mulwa and her children Chris and Angela, are accused of murdering Mr Mbobu. She said Mr Sang would also face charges over the murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso, whose killing detectives believe is linked to the same network.

The other officers who have already denied the murder charge are Julius Cheruiyot, who is based at Pangani Police Station, and Kennedy Kipkemei. Also presented in court were Nicholas Naula Lemiso and Noah Kipkurui Langat.

'Commando-style attack'

The prosecution told the court that Mr Mbobu was killed in a commando-style attack allegedly carried out by well-trained individuals. It said the case did not involve ordinary criminals but police officers who allegedly used their skills and access to carry out the killing.

Mr Lemiso is accused of driving Mr Cheruiyot to the scene and helping him escape after he allegedly fired eight bullets at the lawyer. Mr Langat is accused of conducting surveillance on Mr Mbobu and communicating with Mr Cheruiyot before the killing.

"The fourth respondent coordinated and meticulously planned the death of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu alongside one murder suspect, Rose Mbithe Mulwa, alias Rose Mbithe Ndetei, who is detained over the heinous murder of her former co-wife, Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, on July 29, 2026," a prosecutor told the court.

The alleged motive

The prosecution alleges that the killing was linked to a Sh1.5 billion land dispute at the Machakos High Court, in which Mr Mbobu was representing prominent psychiatrist Prof David Musyimi Ndetei against Ms Mulwa, Prof Ndetei's former wife.

Ms Mulwa reportedly lost the case. Detectives suspect the outcome could have triggered the killings of both Mr Mbobu and Dr Mutiso, a former clinical psychiatrist.

Ms Mulwa and her children, Chris and Angela, who are both lawyers, were arrested alongside seven other suspects, including police officers, over Dr Mutiso's murder.

Prosecutors said the investigations had taken more than a year but had eventually led to the arrest of the suspects.

"Although these investigations have lasted for a year, police efforts have borne fruit and eventually the four were arrested," the court heard.

The evidence so far

Detectives told the court that preliminary investigations linked the suspects to the murder. Ballistic analysis, they said, showed that bullets recovered from Mr Mbobu's body matched ammunition issued to Mr Cheruiyot.

The Ceska pistol issued to Mr Cheruiyot has since been recovered and subjected to ballistic examination, and a spent cartridge was also found at the scene.

Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor told investigators that eight bullets were fired at Mr Mbobu, who was attacked on September 9, 2025, while driving home to Karen in a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Detectives are also analysing the suspects' mobile phones to establish their communication with other alleged accomplices.

Mr Cheruiyot and Mr Kipkemei have denied the allegations, saying the accusations against them are false.

Family's lawyers back detention

Lawyers for Mr Mbobu's family, Senior Counsel Kioko Kilukumi and Gibson Kimani, urged the court to grant the prosecution's request for continued detention, saying detectives needed more time to establish the motive and identify everyone involved.

Mr Kimani said the killing was a matter of great public interest and that no effort should be spared in pursuing justice.

In a brief ruling, the court said the prosecution had established sufficient grounds to justify the suspects' continued detention as investigations proceed.

The matter will be mentioned on November 19, 2026, for further directions. The prosecution said it would oppose the suspects' release on bond. Justice Diana Kavedza is scheduled to hear the bond application on November 24, 2026.

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