The death of Elvis Opiyo has brought a new turn to a case that had attracted public attention after Seventh-day Adventist gospel singer Mary Claire Ochieng was seriously injured in an acid attack in Nairobi.
Opiyo, who had been identified as the prime suspect in the case, was found dead inside his rented apartment in Amani Court, Umoja Two, Nairobi, on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Citizen Digital reported that he was found two days after returning to Nairobi following a summons from his employer, the National Intelligence Service.
A postmortem later established that Opiyo died after ingesting poison, while police classified the death as a suspected suicide. Investigators had found no visible external injuries on his body, and police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death were continuing as they awaited full toxicology results.
The circumstances surrounding his final hours have also drawn attention. Citizen Digital reported that Opiyo had contacted his wife before his death, while a friend later found his body after becoming concerned when his phone went unanswered. Police said no suicide note was recovered from the scene.
The Star reported that Opiyo had been out on bail while facing the case linked to the attack. The publication also reported that his family said he had been struggling with depression for several months.
The case dates back to March 2026, when Mary Claire Ochieng and another woman were attacked along Ngong Road in Nairobi. Police said the women were walking home when one of them was allegedly doused with a corrosive substance, leaving the victims with serious injuries.
Opiyo was subsequently arrested and arraigned in connection with the case. According to police accounts reported by The Star, he was accused of allegedly arranging for another person to attack his former lover. He denied the allegations during the legal process and had been released on bail as the case continued.
Before the allegations against him emerged, Opiyo was also known within Seventh-day Adventist music circles. The Star reported that he had served as a singer with Lighthouse Ministries before his suspension following the allegations linking him to the attack. Several SDA music ministries later expressed condolences following news of his death.
His death does not end the wider investigation into the acid attack. K24 reported that other people linked to the case remained subject to legal proceedings, meaning investigators still have to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack and the roles allegedly played by others.
For Mary Claire, the focus remains on her recovery. Her family and supporters have continued seeking assistance for specialised treatment following the severe injuries she sustained in the attack, while the criminal case involving other suspects continues.
Opiyo’s death therefore leaves two separate but connected developments: a prime suspect in the acid-attack case is no longer alive to face the proceedings against him. At the same time, the wider investigation into the attack and the people allegedly involved remains unresolved.