Senior Advocate Kyalo Mbobu Shot Dead in Targeted Attack

Senior advocate Kyalo Mbobu was shot and killed on Tuesday evening along Magadi Road in Nairobi in what police believe was a targeted attack.

The 72-year-old lawyer was ambushed near Galleria Mall shortly after 6:30 pm According to police, the attackers were riding a motorcycle and opened fire at close range before escaping into traffic. The location, poorly lit and lacking surveillance, made it a vulnerable point for such an assault. Detectives have collected ballistic evidence from the scene and are reviewing nearby CCTV footage.

Mr Mbobu was known for his strict professional routine. He typically began his day early, arriving at his Town House office by 6:00am, attending Mass at Holy Family Basilica, and returning to work by 8:00am. On the day of the incident, he altered his routine to attend meetings outside the office, which police believe may have exposed him to the ambush.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a probe into the murder. DCI Director Mohamed Amin said all available resources are being used to identify and apprehend those responsible. Mr Mbobu’s death has deeply affected the legal community, where he was known for his discipline, legal acumen, and mentorship. 

The Law Society of Kenya is organising a memorial in his honour. Staff at his firm, Kyalo & Associates, expressed shock at the loss. In Maiani, Makueni County, his family is mourning. His brother, James Maluki, described the death as “unbelievable”.

Over a career spanning nearly 50 years, Mr Mbobu worked as a litigator, legal scholar, and university lecturer. He was also a long-serving counsel for retired military officer Captain (Rtd) Kung’u Muigai, a cousin of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Mr Mbobu represented Mr Muigai in a decades-long legal dispute with KCB Bank over a 1989 loan and a contested land auction. The case, despite rulings against Mr Muigai, remained active through appeals and petitions.

On the day of Mr Mbobu’s death, fresh criticism of the case resurfaced on social media, with Mr Muigai disowning a 1992 consent order and alleging judicial misconduct. The Judiciary has dismissed the claims, stating that dissatisfaction with rulings does not amount to evidence of corruption. Investigators are examining whether the renewed controversy could be linked to the killing.

Mr Mbobu was previously mentioned in politically sensitive matters. In 2022, former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukatitold the Supreme Court that Mr Mbobu, along with former Attorney-General Amos Wako and ex-Jubilee Party official Raphael Tuju, had approached him at Bomas of Kenya in an attempt to influence the announcement of the presidential results in favour of Raila Odinga. Mr Chebukati said he declined the request.

Despite his involvement in high-profile and sometimes controversial cases, Mr Mbobu was widely respected in legal circles. Former students remember him as a demanding but principled educator, and colleagues have described him as a lawyer deeply committed to the rule of law.