A fabricated assassination scheme targeting Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi has dramatically backfired, leading Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives to uncover a suspected serial killer masquerading as a political hitman.

What began as a high-stakes political assassination claim has unravelled into a chilling homicide investigation. A suspect who presented himself as a hired hitman has now been exposed as the potential mastermind behind a string of gruesome murders.

This case highlights the perilous intersection of political theatrics and violent crime in Kenya. As political tensions simmer across the Mount Kenya region, the weaponization of assassination claims for clout—or to obscure darker crimes—presents a complex challenge for the DCI and public security apparatus, demanding immediate forensic accountability.

The Anatomy of a Fabrication

The saga initiated when a man walked into a local precinct, sensationally claiming that DCI officers had hired him to eliminate Mathira Member of Parliament, Eric Wamumbi. In a region highly sensitive to political violence, the allegations triggered an immediate, high-level inquiry. Detectives rapidly mobilized to verify the claims, expecting to uncover a deep-seated political conspiracy. However, cross-referencing mobile data, geolocation tracking, and witness testimonies quickly revealed glaring inconsistencies in the suspect's narrative.

It became evident that the assassination plot was entirely fictitious. Law enforcement officials recognized the maneuver as a calculated smokescreen, designed to divert attention from the suspect's own illicit activities. Rather than finding a political conspiracy, investigators found themselves facing a far more sinister reality involving multiple unsolved disappearances in the broader Nyeri jurisdiction.

• The suspect falsely accused DCI personnel of orchestrating a political hit.
• Digital forensics and alibi checks dismantled the fabricated narrative within 48 hours.
• The investigation pivoted from political espionage to a full-scale homicide probe.

Unearthing the Bodies

As the DCI dug deeper into the suspect's background, a harrowing pattern emerged. Background checks linked the individual to several missing persons cases that had previously gone cold. The "hitman" narrative was allegedly a desperate bid to gain protective custody or manipulate the judicial system before his true crimes could be uncovered. The local community, already on edge due to political friction, was left grappling with the revelation that a predator had been operating in their midst.

Forensic teams have since secured multiple sites in Nyeri to search for remains. The discovery has reignited debates over the capacity of local law enforcement to track serial offenders before they escalate. With the Kenyan economy losing millions to insecurity, the swift resolution of this case is paramount. The resources expended on the initial fake plot cost the state heavily, diverting critical manpower from legitimate security threats.

The Mount Kenya Political Context

The backdrop to this bizarre criminal case is the intense political maneuvering in the Mount Kenya region. With factions actively vying for dominance ahead of the 2027 elections, the environment is ripe for misinformation. Criminals are increasingly aware that invoking the names of prominent figures like MP Wamumbi guarantees immediate media and police attention. This tactic of "political cloaking" allows offenders to manipulate public sentiment and weaponize the media against their adversaries.

Lawmakers are now calling for stricter penalties for providing false information to state agencies. The cost of deploying specialized units for fabricated political threats is unsustainable. Moving forward, the DCI must navigate these politically charged claims with heightened skepticism, ensuring that genuine victims are not overshadowed by criminal opportunists exploiting the political climate.

"We thought we were protecting a whistleblower, but we had inadvertently invited the wolf into the station," a senior investigator remarked.