Slain lawyer Kyalo Mbobu was lured into gold scams, fake antiques – Murkomen

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen before Parliament on November 5, 2025./HANDOUT

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has told the Senate that preliminary investigations show slain lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu was lured into fraudulent gold deals and fake German antique transactions before his death.

Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday morning, Murkomen said the probe revealed that Kyalo was deeply entangled in debts owed to shylocks, some of which were linked to the alleged scams.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the deceased was entangled in several debts owed to shylocks, some of which were linked to fraudulent transactions. Specifically, he was lured into dubious gold scams and dealings in alleged German antiques, which turned out to be fraudulent,” he said.

The question on the status of the investigation was raised by nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Kyalo, an advocate at Kyalo & Associates Advocates, was shot dead on September 9, 2025. Police reports indicate that he was driving his grey Toyota Land Cruiser, registration number KCA 177W, along Magadi Road when he was attacked.

Two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle ambushed him near Brookhouse International School. One of them, armed with a pistol, shot him eight times before fleeing towards Galleria Mall.

The incident was reported at Langata Police Station under OB No. 29/09/09/2025, and the case was taken over by the Directorate of Homicide on September 11, 2025.

Murkomen said investigators processed the crime scene and recovered four spent cartridges. Kyalo's vehicle was towed to the Homicide Investigation Bureau for examination.

“During the postmortem examination, two bullet heads were recovered from the deceased’s body and, together with the spent cartridges, were submitted to the DCI Forensic Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” he added.

The CS said several witnesses, including staff from Kyalo & Associates Advocates, had been questioned and their statements recorded.

He also confirmed that CCTV footage had been obtained from Kyalo’s law office is located—and from Brookhouse International School. The footage is being analysed to establish the sequence of events and identify the attackers.

“The investigations are ongoing with the objective of gathering sufficient evidence to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the key suspects behind the crime,” Murkomen told the Senate.

Police say they are following several leads, but no arrests have been made so far.

Kyalo’s killing has triggered outrage in the legal community, with colleagues demanding justice and better protection for lawyers handling sensitive or high-risk cases.

Murkomen assured lawmakers that security agencies are committed to resolving the case and bringing the perpetrators to justice.