Nairobi News

Murder cases and threats to life, whenever they happen, are certain to leave the affected persons and families in grief and fear.

To this end, the authorities, and specifically the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are tasked to investigate such cases and bring the culprits to book.

This though has not been the case, at least on a number of occasions.

Here are some of the prominent cases involving murders or threats to life that the DCI appears to have struggled to crack.

1. Stanley Livondo – The businessman and politician recently sensationally claimed, at a mammoth rally in Thika, that someone had not once but twice tried to take the life of Uhuru Kenyatta during his tenure as President.

“The first attempt was when the President was leaving Kisumu and the second time was when he was going to the USA through Dubai and he had to make a detour,” claimed Livondo.

The comments elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans and the DCI summoned the controversial Livondo to shed more light on the allegations days later. He honoured the summons and then addressed the media where he appeared to maintain his claims were legit. The investigation file is still open.

2. Peter Munya  – In 2019, then Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, now serving in the Agriculture docket, was among political figures who recorded a statement at the DCI offices in Nairobi in relation to a reported murder plot on Deputy President William Ruto. This followed reports that the DP had made a verbal complaint to President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House that he feared for his life.  Munya pleaded his innocence, but controversial blogger Dennis Itumbi, a close ally of the DP maintained there had been a meeting at a city hall where the sensitive subject was discussed. Again, nothing has come of this case.

3. Alfred Mutua – in 2019, the Machakos governor accused Deputy President William Ruto of threatening him with, among others unspecified consequences when the two met at, of all the places, State House. He filed a report at the Kilimani Police Station and later urged the authorities to investigate the matter as he feared for his life. That was the last time we heard of the matter.

4. Dennis Itumbi – The former State House employee turned blogger recently claimed he was abducted by people who tortured him and left him for the dead. He recorded a statement at the police even though he claimed, without sharing evidence that those who tortured him were police officers. Deputy President William Ruto also suggested authorities were behind Itumbi’s woes. Nothing has come out of the case thus far.

5. Chris Msando – In 2017, Chris Msando, the man tasked with overseeing the tallying of votes during the general elections was murdered. His body was found in a thicket alongside a lady. His death was widely criticized at the time and the DCI vowed to bring the killers to book. Well, not yet.

6. Jacob Juma – The controversial businessman was also murdered in 2016. Prior to his death, he had claimed senior politicians in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government were after his life. His killers have never been brought to book despite promises by the DCI.