According to the investigation officer, the first suspect, Julias Cheruiyot, a serving police officer was the shooter, while the second suspect, Nicholas Naula Lemiso, allegedly ferried him to and from the scene. The third suspect, Noah Kipkurui Langat, is alleged to have acted as a surveillance operative, while the fourth, Kennedy Kipkemei, is accused of participating in planning and coordination.
Appearing at the Milimani law court on 25th, September 2026, the four who are linked to the murder of lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu were ordered to remain in police custody for 15 days to allow detectives to complete investigations.
Chief Magistrate Gethi Kibiru directed that the suspects be held at Gigiri, Parklands, Kibera and Muthangari police stations respectively, with the matter set for mention on October 9, 2026.
The court order followed an application by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations seeking 30 days to complete investigations into Mbobu’s murder.
Investigating Officers Inspector Patrick Wachira, attached to the DCI Homicide Investigations Bureau, told the court that detectives had made significant progress but were still pursuing other suspects and analysing evidence.
The prosecution said investigators recovered a firearm, a motorcycle and mobile phones from the four suspects following their arrest in Nairobi on August 24, 2026, in an intelligence-led operation.
According to the DCI, ballistic analysis linked the firearm to cartridge cases and bullet heads recovered from Mbobu’s vehicle and during his postmortem.
The firearm, investigators told the court, had been issued to the first suspect, Julias Cheruiyot, a serving police officer attached to Pangani Police Station.
The prosecution alleges that Cheruiyot was the shooter, while the second suspect, Nicholas Naula Lemiso, allegedly ferried him to and from the scene.
The third suspect, Noah Kipkurui Langat, is alleged to have acted as a surveillance operative, while the fourth, Kennedy Kipkemei, is accused of participating in planning and coordination.
The DCI also told the court that CCTV footage, geolocation data and call-data records had been analysed as part of efforts to reconstruct Mbobu’s movements before his killing.
The prosecution further alleged that the suspects could interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations if released, noting that the first and fourth suspects are police officers.
The State also told the court that the murder investigation is linked to the killing of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, and argued that releasing the suspects could compromise investigations into the two cases.
The prosecution is also pursuing other people believed to have been involved in the killing, with some suspects still at large.
Mbobu was shot dead on September 9, 2025, at around 6pm while driving near Brookhouse International School.
A postmortem conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor found multiple bullet wounds, including eight wounds to the upper body and neck.
Investigators recovered a spent cartridge, bullet fragments and bullet heads for ballistic examination.
The DCI says Mbobu had been representing the family of Professor David Musyimi Ndetei in a property dispute before the Machakos Law Courts, which investigators believe might have been one of the motives for the killing.
The investigation has also brought Rose Mbithe and Chris Mulwa into the wider case, with the DCI stating that they are facing proceedings in separate court files.
The four suspects opposed the request for 30 days, with some asking the court to reduce the period. The fourth suspect disputed the allegations and argued that investigators had already had a year to investigate the murder.
After considering submissions from both sides, Chief Magistrate Gethi Kibiru ordered that the suspects be detained for 15 days instead of the 30 days sought by the prosecution.
They will remain at Gigiri, Parklands, Kibera and Muthangari police stations respectively as detectives complete investigations and prepare the file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The case will be mentioned on October 9, 2026, for further directions.
