Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come under fresh scrutiny in the investigation into the murder of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso after DCI Director Mohamed Amin revealed that he was in communication with one of the main suspects.
Amin on Friday said investigators had established that Gachagua was receiving information from one of the suspects they were pursuing in connection with the killing.
“Unfortunately, what came out very, very clearly is that Honourable Rigathi Gachagua was in communication with one of our main suspects in this matter,” Amin said.
“Who was feeding him with this information, and that thing we were able to establish. And apparently, he also appears to have been in communication with the boda boda rider.”
The DCI boss made the revelation as detectives continued to pursue leads into the killing of Mutiso, a prominent clinical psychologist who was shot dead in Nairobi.
Amin’s remarks come days after Gachagua accused the security agencies of failing to properly investigate the murder.
The former Deputy President had raised questions over the circumstances surrounding Mutiso’s death and alleged that police officers could have been involved in the killing.
His claims placed the DCI under pressure to explain what investigators had uncovered since the murder.
Amin, however, said detectives had made progress and were following several leads, including communication between individuals connected to the case.
The DCI boss also appeared to challenge Gachagua to cooperate with investigators if he had information that could help establish what happened.
“If really meant well from this particular administration…” Amin said, before appearing to urge those with information to work with investigators.
The revelation introduces a new twist into the case, with the former Deputy President’s public criticism of the investigation now being followed by the DCI’s disclosure about his alleged communication with people under investigation.
The DCI has been examining CCTV footage, forensic evidence and other intelligence as detectives work to identify everyone involved in the killing.
However, Amin’s revelation that Gachagua communicated with a suspect does not, on its own, establish that the former Deputy President was involved in Mutiso’s murder.
The key question for investigators is what information was exchanged, why the communication took place and whether it has any connection to the circumstances surrounding Mutiso’s killing.
Mutiso’s murder has continued to attract public attention, with detectives under pressure to establish the motive, identify those who planned the attack and bring all those responsible to justice.
Amin’s latest disclosure is likely to further intensify the political debate surrounding the case, particularly given Gachagua’s earlier accusations against the government and security agencies.
The investigation now enters a potentially crucial phase as detectives piece together the communications, movements and activities of the people believed to have information about Mutiso’s final moments.
