Barely a week after the United States Department of State imposed a travel ban on former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and his immediate family over corruption allegations, attention has now shifted to another Kenyan politician—this time in connection with the unresolved murder of a prominent environmental activist.
According to multiple sources familiar with internal deliberations at the US State Department, Secretary of State Antony John Blinken has taken a keen interest in the killing of conservationist Joanna Stutchbury, a case in which Kimani Ngunjiri, the Bahati Member of Parliament, has previously been named a person of interest by Kenyan authorities.
Murder That Shocked Environmental Circles
Stutchbury, 64, was gunned down on July 15, 2021, near her home in Thindigua, Kiambu County. Witnesses said she had stopped her vehicle to remove tree branches blocking her driveway when attackers opened fire.
Her body was later found slumped in the driver’s seat, the engine still running and valuables untouched—strongly suggesting the killing was not a robbery.
A post-mortem examination revealed she was shot three times in the head and six times in the upper limbs. The attack occurred barely 150 metres from her residence in Mushroom Gardens Estate.
Pressure From Washington and Nairobi Hearings
The killing triggered international outrage, prompting then US President Joe Biden to push for accountability. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta subsequently ordered a speedy investigation.
Through a statement by Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Washington publicly expressed its desire to see justice done for Stutchbury, who was widely known for opposing illegal encroachment into Kiambu Forest.
The matter resurfaced publicly on October 26, when Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko appeared before the Senate Security Committee. Tobiko told senators that investigations had established Stutchbury was killed because of her environmental conservation work.
Link to Land Dispute and MP Named
In his submissions, Tobiko cited a Kiambu court case filed in February 2018, where Agropack Limited—a company in which MP Ngunjiri is a director—sued the Kenya Forest Service and Stutchbury.
The suit stemmed from opposition to a proposed road cutting through protected forest land to access LR No. 25009, a parcel measuring approximately 6.795 hectares, allegedly linked to the legislator.
During the same period, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that Stutchbury had received multiple death threats due to her activism.
Based on these findings, Tobiko concluded that the long-running confrontation between Stutchbury and Ngunjiri should place the MP firmly among the key persons of interest.
Senate Directive and Stalled Local Investigations
Following the hearings, the Senate Security Committee directed then Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai to investigate, arrest, and prosecute the Bahati MP in relation to the murder.
However, investigations in Kenya later stalled, drawing criticism from civil society and international conservation groups.
US Agencies Now “Sniffing Around”
Sources indicate that officials from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), working alongside the US Department of Homeland Security, have been quietly reviewing Ngunjiri’s records after his name repeatedly appeared in their databases.
This renewed interest is reportedly driven by sustained pressure from international environmental and human rights organisations, who argue that Stutchbury’s killing fits a broader pattern of violence against conservationists.
Lobbyists have petitioned US authorities, asserting that the murder was directly linked to forest land grabbing.
Possible Travel Ban Looms
Sources now say Washington is considering a comprehensive travel ban against MP Ngunjiri and his immediate family—mirroring the action taken against Mike Sonko.
Under US immigration rules, individuals linked to crimes involving serious harm to persons, property, or public authority can be denied entry. If sanctioned, Ngunjiri would be barred from the US, with all ESTA and visa applications automatically rejected.
Diplomatic insiders claim that Eric Watnik, the Counsellor for Public Diplomacy at the US Embassy in Nairobi, is already aware of the developments and may issue a public statement in the coming weeks.
A Case That Refuses to Die
More than three years after Joanna Stutchbury’s murder, the case continues to haunt Kenya’s justice system—and now threatens to reshape the political fortunes of yet another powerful figure.
As Washington tightens its scrutiny, the spotlight is once again on a killing that conservationists insist must not be buried by silence, power, or impunity.