A police inspector has gone on the run after detectives linked a pistol officially issued to him to the murder of psychologist Dr Victoria Mutiso, with the DCI saying the officer also served as a key link between the alleged financiers and the team that carried out the killing.
The inspector, who was in charge of Nderi Police Post under Kikuyu Police Station, has been identified as a central figure in the investigation into the July 29 murder in Nairobi's Upper Hill.
Speaking at a press briefing at Magereza House on Friday, August 7, DCI Director Mohamed Amin said ballistic analysis had established that a Jericho pistol recovered from Nderi Police Post was the firearm used to kill Dr Mutiso.
The weapon had been officially issued to the inspector, who is now being pursued by detectives.
"Investigations have established that the elimination of Dr Mutiso was driven by a longstanding land civil dispute," Amin said.
He said detectives were pursuing more suspects believed to have financed and coordinated the killing, as investigators continued to establish the full chain behind the attack.
The DCI has so far arrested two suspects, including a police constable attached to Karinde Police Post under Kikuyu Police Station. The officer has been identified by investigators as the alleged gunman, with forensic and other evidence placing him at the scene.
Detectives recovered two spent cartridges from the crime scene, while a bullet head was retrieved during the postmortem examination. The forensic evidence helped investigators connect the pistol recovered from Nderi Police Post to the shooting.
Amin said detectives pieced together the case through forensic analysis, CCTV footage and intelligence gathered from several security agencies.
Investigators also established that two Toyota Prado vehicles were used in the operation. One was allegedly used to block the taxi carrying Dr Mutiso, while the other transported the hit squad.
Detectives traced the owners of both vehicles, who confirmed they had hired them to the prime suspect before the vehicles were returned on July 30, 2026. Vehicle tracking data placed both Prados at the scene at the time of the shooting.
A motorcycle rider suspected of ferrying the alleged gunman to and from the scene has also been arrested and detained.
"Investigations led our officers to serving police officers who, unfortunately, played very critical roles in the conspiracy. A police inspector, the officer in charge of Nderi Police Post under Kikuyu Police Station, has been positively identified as the link between the financiers and the operational team, as well as the source of the murder weapon," Amin said.
He described the alleged involvement of serving officers as "a grave betrayal of the uniform and the public trust" and vowed to pursue everyone involved.
The investigation comes a week after Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor confirmed that Dr Mutiso died from severe bleeding after sustaining three gunshot wounds. The postmortem showed she was shot twice in the head and once through the upper back, causing fatal chest and head injuries.