Elvis Opiyo, who had been accused of orchestrating an acid attack against SDA gospel singer Mary Claire Ochieng, has reportedly died in Umoja, Nairobi, in circumstances being treated as a suspected suicide.

Opiyo had been at the centre of investigations into the attack on Claire, who suffered serious burns after she was allegedly attacked with acid while heading home along Ngong Road earlier this year.

Claire later publicly accused her estranged lover of being behind the assault, saying the attack followed her decision to end their relationship. She also shared WhatsApp messages and other material which she said showed escalating threats and attempts by Opiyo to convince her to return to the relationship.

According to accounts previously reported about the case, a witness alleged that Opiyo recruited several men to carry out the attack and that approximately KSh300,000 was discussed as payment for the operation. The witness also claimed that the alleged attackers were connected through individuals operating in Mathare.

Claire has previously said the February attack was not an isolated incident. She alleged that she had experienced several earlier attacks, including incidents involving acid, physical assault and threats, before the attack that left her with severe injuries.

The singer also disputed claims that Opiyo had financed her education, saying she was a government sponsored student and that her family covered the remaining costs.

Opiyo's death adds another layer to the case ¶

The reported death now introduces a new dimension to an already complex investigation.

Police will have to establish where Opiyo was before his death, what happened in the moments leading up to it and whether anyone else was involved.

Investigators will also have to determine whether his death has any connection to the pending investigations surrounding the acid attack.

That will be particularly important because the case involves allegations of an organised attack in which more than one person was reportedly involved.

If other suspects remain under investigation or at large, authorities will need to establish their individual roles and whether they possess information that could help explain what happened to Claire.

The victim still needs justice ¶

While Opiyo's reported death will become a separate police investigation, it does not erase the original allegations surrounding the attack on Claire.

The singer is still dealing with the consequences of the assault and has previously spoken publicly about the physical and emotional effects of the injuries.

She has also appealed for financial assistance for reconstructive treatment as she continues her recovery. Recent posts indicate that she has been seeking millions of shillings to support the medical procedures required after the attack.

The case therefore remains bigger than the fate of one suspect.

Investigators must establish who planned the attack, who carried it out, who supplied the corrosive substance and whether anyone else assisted or financed the alleged operation.

The reported death comes against the background of other Kenyan cases where the death of a suspect has complicated criminal investigations.

In cases involving multiple suspects, the death of one person does not necessarily answer questions about the wider network allegedly involved. Investigators still have to preserve evidence, establish individual responsibility and determine whether other suspects should face charges.

That is particularly important in an alleged organised attack such as this one.

If there were communications between suspects, financial transactions, phone records, CCTV footage or other evidence, those trails do not disappear simply because one person involved has died.

Police now face two investigations ¶

Authorities now have two separate questions to answer.

First, what exactly happened to Elvis Opiyo in Umoja?

Second, what happened in the events leading to the attack on Mary Claire Ochieng, and who was responsible?

The two investigations should not be confused.

Opiyo's reported death must be investigated independently, while the acid attack investigation should continue based on the available evidence.

The death of a suspect cannot be allowed to close a case that involves an injured victim and allegations of a planned attack.

For Claire and her family, the central question remains the same:

Who attacked her, who organised the attack and why?

Police are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding Opiyo's death and determine whether there are other individuals who should be questioned or investigated in connection with the acid attack.

The reported death may change the direction of the investigation, but it does not end the search for answers.