John Kituyi

John Kituyi ( – 30 April 2015) was a Kenyan editor and publisher for the newspaper Mirror Weekly who lived in Eldoret, Rift Valley Province, Kenya. Kituyi was known for writing and publishing investigative journalism about Kenyan politics. Kituyi was murdered by unknown assailants.

Personal John Kituyi, 63, was married to Esther Kituyi, and the couple had seven children. Kituyi resided in the western part of Eldoret, Kenya, in Pioneer Estates, and he also had a rural home in Naitiri, Bungoma County. As a journalist, Kituyi's articles mainly focused on investigative reporting and the politics of local and national government.

Two assailants on motorcycles attacked John Kituyi while he was returning home by foot after work at around 7:30 p.m. on 30 April 2015. Kituyi had first stopped at the Country Lodge Club and at the time of his attack, he was walking the short distance between the club and his home. The attackers repeatedly hit Kituyi with blunt objects and then stole his mobile phone but they did not rob him of his valuables. He was first taken to Eldoret's Reale Hospital, which rejected him because its facility was over occupied, and then he was moved to Eldoret Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, and he was finally identified at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Kituyi had a severe back injury and multiple bruises across his body. More progress in the case was made in July when a man with the Kenyan Defense Forces had possession of Kituyi's sim card and was charged with robbery and pleaded innocent.

Context In Kenya, violence targeting journalists has increased, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Journalists are currently uncertain because of the conflict between Kenya's Constitution, which was adopted in 2010 and grants press freedom, and laws created under President Uhuru Kenyatta that impose restrictions. Since January 2015, there have been 19 reports from journalists stating that they have been threatened or attacked; all but three of these cases involved public officials of Kenya. Cases like this in Kenya are rarely prosecuted. The Mirror Weekly was known for publishing articles about politics of Western Kenya and its investigative reporting. Kituyi's murder while investigating a missing witness in Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto's ICC case, has increased uncertainty about safety and press rights in the country.

Kituyi's family and colleagues also called for an investigation.