The fatal shooting of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso in Upper Hill, Nairobi City, on Wednesday morning came after a series of disturbing incidents that had already raised concerns about her safety, the Nation can reveal.
In the months before her death, the clinical psychologist had reported an alleged attack at her Mlolongo home and a separate incident in which she said an armed man approached her vehicle in traffic.
Now, detectives are examining whether those incidents were connected to the killing.
Dr Mutiso was travelling to work in a taxi on Wednesday morning when, according to preliminary police accounts, a dark-coloured vehicle blocked the car in the Mbagathi Road area.
A man armed with a gun then approached the vehicle and shot Dr Mutiso, who was seated in the rear passenger seat, before fleeing. She died in the attack.
The circumstances of the killing have prompted detectives to investigate whether she was deliberately targeted, with preliminary findings indicating that she may have been followed from her home.
The Director of DCI Liaison and Corporate Affairs, John Marete, said homicide detectives had combed through the crime scene and collected forensic exhibits and recorded statements from witnesses.
He declined to disclose the identities of two suspects, a woman and a man, arrested in connection with the case or details of the evidence gathered, saying the investigation was ongoing.
An undated photo of slain clinical psychologist and mental health researcher Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso.
Photo credit: Pool
In February, Dr Mutiso reported an alleged attack at her Mlolongo home where she was living.
According to the report filed at Mlolongo police station, a group of people including individuals she identified as police officers, entered the compound, damaged property and allegedly attempted to forcibly remove members of the household.
She later complained that despite making the report at a local police station, she was not immediately issued with an official Occurrence Book (OB) reference. The Nation established the reference was eventually provided in May.
The Nation sought confirmation of the complaint from the relevant police command but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Then, on July 7, Dr Mutiso reported another frightening encounter.
She said she had stopped at traffic lights in withinNairobi when a man alighted from a motorcycle carrying what appeared to be a firearm and began approaching her vehicle.
Before he could reach her, she drove away and reported the incident at Kilimani police station.
Three weeks later, Dr Mutiso was dead.
The sequence has now become a crucial part of the homicide inquiry, with detectives seeking to establish whether the earlier incidents were isolated encounters or warnings of a more calculated attack.
Slain clinical psychologist and mental health researcher Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso.
Photo credit: Pool
Another strand of the investigation concerns a long-running dispute over the property where Dr Mutiso was living.
The property had previously been the subject of matrimonial and ownership litigation dating back more than two decades. Court proceedings over the ownership and occupation of the house eventually culminated in an eviction according to information reviewed by the Nation.
It remains unclear whether the property dispute is connected to Dr Mutiso's killing. Investigators are expected to establish whether anyone linked to the earlier dispute had a motive, opportunity or connection to the attack.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder although detectives have not publicly disclosed their identities or the specific evidence linking them to the crime.
Forensic teams are examining exhibits recovered during searches, while investigators continue interviewing people who may help reconstruct Dr Mutiso's final movements.
“The DCI further confirms that two persons of interest are in lawful custody and are undergoing interrogation as part of ongoing investigations,”DCI said.
The shooting has also heightened concerns about insecurity in Nairobi following a series of robberies and gun attacks reported in recent weeks.
