Reports published immediately after the shooting listed Mr Mbobu’s broad portfolio of high-profile work, some unverified claims have emerged linking him to a multi-billion-shilling dispute between a retired military officer and a top bank in Kenya
By TWV Team
A senior Nairobi advocate, Mathew Kyalo Mbobu, was shot dead in a drive-by attack along Magadi/Lang’ata Road on 9 September 2025, raising concerns over the security of Kenyan legal practitioners. Witnesses reported that a gunman on a motorcycle approached Mr Mbobu’s vehicle in the Galleria–Brookhouse area, opened fire, and then left the scene, causing traffic delays and concern among the public.
Police officers at the scene recovered spent cartridges and later towed the lawyer’s car for forensic examination. Preliminary reports indicate the shooting appeared to be planned, with investigators describing it as a targeted action. Colleagues stated that Mr Mbobu had been driving alone at the time, supporting suspicions that he was the intended target.
Mr Mbobu was a respected figure in both legal and governance circles. He previously served as chairperson of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, authored several publications on governance, and was a senior partner at a Nairobi law firm specialising in commercial and governance litigation. His high standing has amplified public outrage, with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and senior political figures condemning the murder as an assault on the rule of law.
The LSK has demanded a comprehensive investigation, calling on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to prioritise the case. “This is a direct attack on the legal profession. We expect an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said an LSK official.
While reports published immediately after the shooting listed Mr Mbobu’s broad portfolio of high-profile work, some unverified claims have emerged linking him to a multi-billion-shilling dispute between a retired military officer and a top bank in Kenya.
The killing leaves troubling questions unanswered: Was Mr Mbobu targeted because of his professional duties? Had he received threats before the attack? And what evidence, whether forensic, CCTV, or mobile phone data, might lead investigators closer to the truth?
For the legal fraternity and the wider public, the demand is clear: justice must not only deliver accountability for the perpetrators but also guarantee the protection of lawyers whose work is central to Kenya’s constitutional order.
