The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a homicide investigation into the fatal shooting of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, who was gunned down in Nairobi's Upper Hill on Wednesday morning, July 29 after reportedly requesting an Uber ride.
In a statement, the DCI said homicide detectives from its headquarters had taken over the probe, with forensic experts already processing the scene and pursuing leads to identify those behind the killing.
According to preliminary investigations, Dr Mutiso had requested an Uber for transport when she sustained fatal gunshot injuries in circumstances that investigators say are yet to be established.
Police officers and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) detectives responded immediately after the incident, securing the scene, collecting forensic evidence and interviewing witnesses. Detectives also visited the medical facility where the victim was rushed.
"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has commenced investigations into the fatal shooting of Dr. Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, which occurred this morning, 29th July 2026, in Upper Hill area of Nairobi," the agency stated.
The DCI said investigators were following "all critical investigative leads", including persons of investigative interest, as they seek to establish exactly what happened and bring those responsible to justice.
"The DCI remains committed to conducting a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement added.
The agency appealed to members of the public to avoid speculation or sharing unverified information while investigations continue, warning that doing so could interfere with the probe.
It also urged anyone with information that could assist detectives to report to the nearest police station or anonymously through the DCI's #FichuaKwaDCI platform.
The DCI said it would provide updates on the case as investigations progress and when it is operationally appropriate to do so.
Reports indicate that Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso was shot dead after armed assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on the taxi she was travelling in.
According to eyewitnesses, another vehicle intercepted the taxi moments before the gunmen struck, spraying it with bullets and killing the renowned psychologist on the spot.
Mutiso was a respected clinical psychologist and mental health researcher who served as the Head of Research at the Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation (AMHRTF). Her work centred on child and adolescent mental health.
Beyond her research, she was actively involved in public health initiatives targeting young people, adapting mental health toolkits for marginalised urban and rural communities across Kenya. She also co-led the NIHR-funded HOPE Project, which focused on homelessness and severe mental illness, and co-authored Your A-Z on Mental Health alongside Professor David Ndetei.
The location where she was pronounced dead at the Kenyatta National Hospital has also reignited public debate, as it lies about 3.4 kilometres from the City Roundabout, where the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were was fatally shot in what authorities described as a targeted attack.
The area has increasingly drawn public attention following another high-profile incident involving Mathare-based activist Davis Lichuma, who was allegedly abducted after attending the June 25 Gen Z commemoration protests. He was later found unconscious on June 28 after reportedly being dumped in the same area.
