Kenya has been thrown into grief and outrage following the assassination of senior lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu, who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on a busy street in Nairobi. Mbobu, a highly respected legal mind and former head of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal, was driving home on Tuesday evening when unknown assailants struck.
According to eyewitnesses on Lang’ata/Magadi Road, a motorcycle pulled up alongside his car before a gunman opened fire, releasing a hail of bullets that shattered his vehicle’s windows and fatally wounded him. Disturbing footage circulating on social media showed Mbobu’s bloodied body slumped over the steering wheel, a grim scene that has sent shockwaves across the nation.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) condemned the murder, describing it as “abhorrent” and warning that it bore all the hallmarks of a “premeditated assassination.” LSK president Faith Odhiambo expressed grave concern over the increasing threats and violence faced by members of the legal profession in Kenya. “Too often, advocates have been victimised and targeted for the work they do,” she said, urging swift justice for the slain lawyer.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi also voiced outrage, calling the assassination a “cold-blooded killing” that has left the country shaken. He demanded a speedy and thorough police investigation to uncover both the motive and the perpetrators behind what many fear is another case of politically linked violence.
The killing has drawn chilling parallels to the assassination of Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were earlier this year, who was similarly shot dead in a drive-by attack on a busy Nairobi road. Police at the time described that murder as a “targeted and predetermined” assassination, and several suspects were arrested and charged.
For many Kenyans, the murder of Mbobu underscores the growing climate of insecurity and raises troubling questions about the safety of high-profile professionals, politicians, and advocates who often challenge entrenched interests. The brazenness of the attack carried out during evening traffic on a major road has intensified calls for accountability and justice, as well as renewed demands for stronger protection of legal practitioners.
As investigations continue, the public awaits answers about who ordered the killing and why. Until then, Mbobu’s death stands as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who uphold justice and democracy in Kenya, and the urgent need for the state to protect them.
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