Catholic Priest Found Murdered After Meeting Gachagua Was Shot Multiple Times, Report Says

NYANDARUA, Kenya — Father John Maina, a Catholic priest who was found dead last week along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, died from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head that severely damaged his skull, according to sources familiar with the post-mortem examination.

The priest’s body was discovered on Thursday, May 15, at Kikopey, approximately 50 kilometers from Igwamiti Catholic Parish where he served as parish priest.

Investigators believe Father Maina was murdered elsewhere and his body dumped at the location.

“The body is in bad shape, it was badly mutilated,” said a detective who witnessed the post-mortem examination, speaking to a local daily on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly. The detective added that the body had begun decomposing by the time it was retrieved.

Based on the condition of the priest’s body, the killer was determined to ensure he was dead by the time they exited the scene.

Just two weeks before his death, Father Maina had hosted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Igwamiti Catholic Parish during the church’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Government pathologist Titus Ngulungu conducted the post-mortem examination on Tuesday at Pope Benedict Catholic Hospital mortuary near Nyahururu town. However, Dr. Ngulungu declined to speak with journalists, citing instructions from the Church not to discuss the report.

Family members have expressed dissatisfaction with how the Church has handled the matter.

“We want to know who killed him and why. We are saddened by the death of our son,” said Susan Njambi, the priest’s aunt.

Njambi recalled trying to reach Father Maina on Thursday about his uncle’s condition at Kinangop Mission Hospital.

“I was calling to update him about his uncle’s condition since he was the one paying the hospital bill. But calls went unanswered only for me to find out he’d been killed in Nakuru,” she said.

Four days after the discovery of the body, detectives from Gilgil in Nakuru County investigating the murder reportedly have limited information. Their investigation is now focused on the priest’s final moments and how he ended up at Kikopey, far from his parish.

Father Maina, who was ordained about 10 years ago, was born in Ng’arua, Laikipia, and was the fourth of 10 siblings.

His family later settled in Karagoini area in Ndaragua Constituency, Nyandarua.

Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha mourned the priest, describing him as “a development-conscious person” and “a close friend.”

Police say the post-mortem report is vital to their investigation into the priest’s murder.

After discovery by passersby, Father Maina’s body was initially taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Gilgil.

Father Maina will be buried on Thursday at Tabor Hill Catholic cemetery in Ol Joro Orok Constituency.

The investigation continues as authorities work to unravel the circumstances surrounding the priest’s death and identify those responsible.