- Lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu was shot dead in a drive-by attack in Nairobi’s Karen estate.
- The gunman approached during a traffic jam and fired three close-range shots.
- Mbobu was a respected legal scholar and former tribunal chair.
- The Law Society of Kenya condemned the killing as a targeted assassination.
- Investigations are ongoing, with police reviewing CCTV and tracing his final movements.
Kenya’s legal fraternity and wider public are reeling after the assassination of senior lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu, who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on Tuesday evening in Nairobi’s Karen estate. The attack, which occurred near the Lang’ata-Magadi road junction, has reignited fears over targeted violence against public figures.
Mbobu, a respected legal scholar and former chair of both the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal and the Business Rent Premises Tribunal, was driving home when assailants on a motorcycle pulled alongside his vehicle and opened fire. Witnesses reported multiple gunshots, and police later confirmed he was shot at close range, with no signs of robbery.
Security footage reviewed by investigators shows the gunman calmly approaching Mbobu’s car during a traffic jam, firing three rounds through the driver’s window before fleeing on a waiting motorcycle. The lawyer died instantly, slumped over the steering wheel as stunned motorists scrambled for safety.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) condemned the killing as a “predetermined assassination,” warning that lawyers continue to face threats for their work in politically sensitive and high-stakes disputes. LSK President Faith Odhiambo called for swift and decisive action, urging the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to prioritize the case and restore public confidence in the rule of law.
Mbobu’s death has drawn parallels to the April killing of MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was also shot dead in a suspected assassination on a busy Nairobi road. That case led to multiple arrests and charges, but the recurrence of such attacks has raised alarm over the safety of Kenya’s legal and political elite.
Tributes have poured in from across the country. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, a former student of Mbobu, described him as a brilliant legal mind and a dedicated public servant. Mbobu was known for mentoring generations of lawyers at the University of Nairobi and for his influential writings on evidence law.
As investigations continue, the motive behind the killing remains unclear. Police have collected forensic evidence and are tracing Mbobu’s final movements, including a lunch meeting earlier that day. The DCI has pledged to pursue justice for the slain advocate and called on the public to share any information that could aid the case.
For many Kenyans, the tragedy is more than a personal loss — it’s a chilling reminder of the growing risks faced by those who serve in the country’s justice system.
