An autopsy has revealed that prominent mental health researcher Dr Victoria Mutiso died from excessive bleeding after she was shot three times, with two bullets striking her head, as detectives intensify investigations into her killing in Nairobi's Upper Hill.
The post-mortem examination, conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital Mortuary on Friday, confirmed that the injuries she suffered were fatal and is expected to provide key forensic evidence as investigators work to establish what happened and who was involved in the shooting.
Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor, assisted by pathologist Bernard Midia, carried out the examination and said the gunshot wounds caused serious injuries to the head and chest, leading to severe blood loss.
"What led to her death was severe bleeding. There were also chest injuries and head injuries because of the three gunshot wounds," he said.
Dr Oduor said the examination established that Dr Mutiso was shot three times, with two bullets entering the left side of her head before exiting on the right side.
"We found that she was shot three times, twice on the head. The two bullets entered on the left side and exited on the right side," Dr Oduor said.
The autopsy findings are expected to form part of the forensic evidence that detectives will rely on together with ballistic examinations, witness statements and electronic records as they continue piecing together the events surrounding the fatal shooting.
Investigators say Dr Mutiso, the former Director of the African Institute of Mental and Brain Health, was shot on July 29, 2026, while travelling in an Uber vehicle along Ralph Road in Nairobi's Upper Hill area.
Her death has drawn widespread attention because of her contribution to mental health research, policy and advocacy in Kenya and across Africa.
Even as detectives analyse the forensic findings, investigations have also shifted to the courts where police are seeking more time to complete their inquiries.
Rose Mbithe Mulwa and her son, Chris Mulwa, were presented before the Milimani Law Courts after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), applied for orders to detain them for 30 days to allow investigators to complete the probe.
The two appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Friday but did not take a plea. The court is expected to rule on Monday on the application seeking to detain them as investigations continue.
Investigating officer Corporal Romana Odour told the court that detectives require more time to trace additional people believed to have been involved in the incident, record statements from key witnesses, complete forensic examinations and analyse electronic and documentary evidence recovered during the investigation.
"We seek the two suspects to be detained by the DCI in custody for 30 days to allow the DCI homicide investigators to complete investigations," Corporal Odour told the court.
The investigating officer said detectives are also pursuing additional leads as they work to establish the motive behind the fatal shooting and determine the role played by every person believed to have been involved.
If the application is granted, investigators will continue examining ballistic, forensic, electronic and documentary evidence while recording witness statements and tracing other people believed to be connected to the case.
With the post-mortem examination now complete, detectives are expected to rely on the findings as they continue building the murder case and preparing the evidence that will form part of the prosecution.