By:Betty Luke
Mental health researcher Dr. Victoria Nthunya Mutiso who was shot dead on Wednesday morning. PHOTO/Courtesy
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations into the killing of Dr. Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, a mental health researcher who was shot dead in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area on Wednesday morning.
According to the DCI, preliminary investigations indicate that Dr. Mutiso had requested an Uber for transport when she sustained fatal gunshot injuries under circumstances that investigators say are yet to be established.
Police also revealed that the deceased had previously reported threats to her life at Kilimani Police Station after armed men riding on a motorcycle allegedly pointed a gun at her while she was caught in traffic.
“We stand in solidarity with the family in their grief and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to conducting a thorough, impartial and professional investigation aimed at establishing the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident and bringing those responsible to justice,” the agency said in a statement.
Detectives are pursuing multiple leads, including following up on persons of investigative interest, as they seek to establish the motive behind the killing and identify those responsible.
The agency called on the public to avoid sharing unverified information warning that speculation could interfere with the ongoing probe.
“As the investigation is ongoing, members of the public are urged to exercise restraint and refrain from speculation or the dissemination of unverified information,”the statement added.
The late served as the Research Director at the Africa Mental Health Foundation (AMHF).
Dr. Mutiso leaves behind her husband, Professor David Musyimi Ndetei, the Founding Director of the Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation (AMHRTF), and two children.
The DCI has urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to report to the nearest police station or submit it anonymously through its established reporting channels.
