At 9:30 p.m. on May 6, 2016, the body of Kenyan businessman Jacob Juma was discovered in a pool of blood on Ngong Road in Nairobi. Juma, a tireless crusader against corruption, was well-known for his bold statements on social media, condemning the widespread corruption in Kenya. Born in 1971 in Mungore, a village in Kenya’s Bungoma County, Juma was not only a self-made billionaire but also a close ally of many opposition politicians. His outspoken nature against corruption made him many enemies among the powerful and corrupt.
Corruption in Kenya is a pervasive issue, allegedly involving politicians, civil servants, and businesspeople. Many in the business community have been known to support corrupt politicians to safeguard their interests, and politicians often seek financial gains from businesspeople during election campaigns. Juma, however, refused to be part of this corrupt system. He openly denounced political misconduct, which quickly made him a target.
In the aftermath of Juma’s murder, opposition politicians accused Deputy President William Ruto of being behind his death. Ruto, a powerful figure often named in corruption scandals, had been publicly criticized by Juma, making him a likely suspect in the eyes of many. Juma had even posted on Facebook accusing Ruto of plotting to kill him. His murder occurred during a period of intense political tension leading up to the 2017 elections. Jacob’s brother, Philip, recalled, “During the time of his death, political temperatures were very high in this country. We feared for our lives too and decided to keep silent; we went underground. We left everything for the government.”
Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who had been vocal about government corruption, joined others in condemning Juma’s murder. Many Kenyans took to social media, labeling the killing a political assassination. Political activist Boniface Mwangi tweeted, “Killer cops are a danger to everyone. They are the same ones politicians and business people hire to murder their rivals. Jacob Juma, Chris Musando, George Muchai just to name three high profile murders done by contract killer cops.”
The assassination of political activists in Kenya is not a new phenomenon. Organized-criminal groups have often been used to silence dissenters, with no one held accountable. Security expert George Musamali noted, “Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko and Dr. Odhiambo Mbai are among those we have witnessed. All of them, their deaths were politically related. These people were politically famous, and the only way to silence them was by killing them.”
Chris Musando, head of information technology at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, was another victim. He was murdered days before the 2017 general election. Musamali explained, “He wanted Kenya to have a clean election and he was targeted for his stand. Sadly, Kenyans went silent after his death, yet he was fighting for them.” These incidents are used to intimidate the opposition, undermine democracy, and instill fear among citizens.
Juma’s murder was believed to be well-planned, involving powerful individuals aware of his movements. His assailants avoided areas with CCTV surveillance, choosing Ngong Road, where there were no security cameras. Although the exact ambush spot is unclear, it is evident that the attackers acted under clear instructions.
Before his death, Juma had expressed concerns about his safety multiple times, troubling his family and followers. Philip said, “Before he died, he talked about his life being in danger on social media and also confided to us as a family. We helped him to go and record statements about it. The law enforcers did not take any action after the report. We remained worried about his life until the unexpected happened – he was shot by unknown people in cold blood.”
The government promised to investigate Juma’s death, but no progress has been reported. Philip voiced the family’s frustration, saying, “We have not heard anything concerning the investigations that the government promised to give us. It has all been silence, all through. There is nothing going on, no communication even from the government about our brother’s death. They promised to investigate and bring to book the killers.” He continued, “As a family, we have been praying, and still do so, that we will get justice concerning the death of our brother. Our brother spoke about corruption and condemned those behind it and later he lost his precious life.”
Musamali suggested that Juma’s murder could likely be an assassination. “He might have been killed by a criminal gang or any other organized group that could have targeted him because of his business deals and political associations. But, largely, we can say it was an assassination.” Investigations in such cases are complex, with perpetrators ensuring no evidence is left behind. Ndegwa Muhoro, the director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the time, confirmed that Juma’s killers had tampered with the crime scene after shooting him multiple times.
Musamali added that the lack of police autonomy in Africa hampers investigations. “In Africa, we do not have independent police units,” he said. “This makes it difficult to follow up on these cases because of political inclination. There is usually no political will and lack of concern by police when they realize the nature of the death.”
According to a 2016/17 human-rights report by Amnesty International, Kenyan security forces carried out enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and torture with impunity, resulting in the deaths of at least 122 people by October 2016. These victims included members of the political opposition, civil-society activists, or journalists. The death of Juma and others highlights the human cost of government corruption in Kenya.
