Elvis Opiyo, a National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer and prime suspect in a March 2026 acid attack, was discovered dead in his rented Umoja apartment on August 11, 2026.

Authorities found Opiyo lying on his back with no visible external injuries. However, several items at the scene have raised questions about the circumstances of his death.

Items Found at the Scene

  • An empty white plastic cup containing traces of an unidentified substance
  • A spoon
  • A white chemical material wrapped in clear nylon, placed on a wooden table
  • A dismissal letter from NIS, linked to the ongoing acid attack investigation

Investigators suspect the chemical substance may have been poison. No suicide note was found.

Background and Investigation

Opiyo had travelled from his rural home to Nairobi at the request of his employer shortly before his death. Reports indicate he received a dismissal letter from NIS hours before he was found dead. He informed his wife about the dismissal but later became unreachable, causing concern.

A postmortem examination on August 12 suggested ingestion of a toxic substance as the likely cause of death. Toxicology results are still pending.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations continues to investigate the case. Meanwhile, arrangements are underway to transfer Opiyo's body to Nyanza for burial.