Nairobi — Kenyan authorities have arrested a senior government official in connection with the killing of lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu, whose shooting earlier this week shocked the legal community.
The official, whose role in the case remains unclear, is one of six people now in custody. Police say the murder may be tied to unresolved financial matters.
Investigators recovered a large amount of cash during raids on the suspects’ homes. Officers brought in money-counting machines to tally the notes. Some of those detained described themselves as friends of Mbobu, according to an officer close to the investigation.
“They are in custody as part of the inquiry and have described themselves as friends of the deceased,” the officer said.
Mbobu, a well-known lawyer, was gunned down on 9 September along Magadi Road in Nairobi. Witnesses told police a motorcycle pulled up beside his car before a gunman opened fire at close range, hitting him in the neck and chest. The attackers fled after firing several shots into the air.
Police say some of the suspects had met Mbobu at a restaurant hours before the killing. Others are believed to have been clients. Several people have since given statements to investigators about their dealings with him.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mulele Ingong, has ordered police to fast-track the investigation and submit a full report within a week. He expressed sympathy to Mbobu’s family and colleagues, calling on the public to share any information that might help.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also condemned the killing. Speaking in Migori, he said several individuals of interest had been identified and statements recorded. “This is a tragic event,” Murkomen said. “We urge the public to come forward with any information that can aid this probe.”
Authorities are still searching for the firearm used in the attack and have yet to confirm who ordered the hit. For now, the arrest of a senior official adds a new layer of complexity to a case already marked by mystery and grief.
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