Murder of environmentalist Stutchbury remains unsolved

The murder of environmentalist Joannah Stutchbury is among many cases that remain unsolved months later.

Investigators say they are focusing on the beneficiaries of illegal allocations of Kiambu forest in the probe.

DCI boss George Kinoti told MPs that his officers are seeking to establish a link between the murder and the alleged grabbing of the forest land.

Stutchbury, 67, was shot six times outside her Kiambu home on July 15 as she got out of her car to clear driveway which had been blocked by branches.

Kinoti said preliminary investigations reveal Stutchbury might have been killed because of her passion and position on forest conservation. 

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the deceased’s resistance to the encroachment and illegal construction of a road on LR. No 21179 F/R. NO.284/108 may have been the probable motive behind the murder,” Kinoti said.

The postmortem report said she died of multiple gunshot injuries from a low-velocity firearm at close range.

In a report to a Senate committee, Kinoti said Stutchbury might have crossed the illegal developers who wanted to construct a road in the wetland to gain access to their ‘illegally’ acquired properties.

Kinoti submitted the report to the National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations committee that is probing the murder of the environmentalist.

The DCI chief said investigations are at an advanced stage.

The probe involves officers from the crime research and intelligence bureau, homicide department, cyber forensics, crime support services, firearms ballistics and the Kiambu subcounty criminal investigation team.

He disclosed to the committee that samples and exhibits recovered from the scene and elsewhere are undergoing forensic, cyber and ballistics examinations to link persons of interests to the murder.

Kinoti revealed that several persons of interest have been questioned and their statements recorded.

Following the findings of the preliminary investigations, the DCI boss revealed  his officers have also initiated investigations into the alleged illegal acquisition of the 133.95ha (330 acres) of forest. 

He said detectives have established that Kiambu Central Forest boundaries and beacons are intact, however,  131.38ha (324 acres) has been illegally allocated to individuals and companies.

He said only 2.25ha (5.5 acres) of the land remains as Kiambu forestland.

The 64-year-old woman was hit on the head three times and three times on the upper limbs, according to the autopsy done on her body. 

The bullet wounds on her upper limbs indicated that she tried to fight off her killers. She also had bruises.

Stutchbury was attacked on July 15 about 150 metres from her home in Mushroom Gardens Estate, Kiambu county, witnesses said. Nothing was stolen from her.

The presence of gun powder deposits on her flesh, which is known as tattooing, showed the shooting was at close range. A pistol was used.

She suffered a fractured skull and a bullet track was found in.

In 2018, Stutchbury stopped a group that wanted to re-channel a wetland by creating an access road to the forest.

She and the Kenya Forest Service were taken to court by individuals who claimed they owned land in Kiambu Forest, which borders her home.

A photo taken of her seated on the bucket of an excavator that had been brought to clear the wetland, went viral, forcing the alleged land grabbers to abandon their mission.

President Uhuru Kenyatta condemned the killing of the Kenyan environmentalist and ordered security agencies to hunt the perpetrators.

In his message of condolence, the President said his administration appreciates the contribution of Stuchburry to environmental conservation. 

“It is sad, unfortunate and regrettable that bad people have senselessly taken away the life of Joanna Stuchburry in such a senseless manner."

"For the longest time, Joanna has been a steadfast champion for the conservation of our environment and is remembered for her relentless efforts to protect Kiambu forest from encroachment," the President said.

Stutchbury’s murder was second of a conservationist in recent years.

In 2018, Esmond Bradley Martin, a Kenya-based American conservationist whose investigations of the elephant ivory and rhino horn trades were seen as critical in efforts to protect the threatened species, was found stabbed to death in his Nairobi home. His murder remains unresolved.

Environmentalists described an alarming spike in threats and violence against their ranks, with some forced into hiding while their "perpetrators continue to scour the country free from any repercussions".

-Edited by SKanyara