NYAHURURU, Kenya — The death of a Catholic priest in central Kenya has raised troubling questions about money, politics, and alleged threats—setting off a full-scale murder investigation.
Father John Maina, a priest at Igwamiti Parish in Nyahururu, was found seriously injured on May 15 near the Nakuru-Nairobi highway. Just days earlier, he had taken part in a high-profile silver jubilee event attended by several politicians, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
He was discovered by a motorcycle rider near the Diotomite stage, barely conscious and bleeding from the side of his head. According to the rider, Fr. Maina said he had been abducted from Nyahururu.
“He was in pain but managed to speak,” said the rider, who asked not to be named. “He told me he had been kidnapped and needed help.”
Fr. Maina was rushed to St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil, where medics tried to stabilise him. He died shortly after admission.
Police now believe the bruises on his head may not have been the cause of death. An autopsy performed on May 19 by government pathologist Dr. Ngulungu found no clear signs of fatal trauma.
“The injuries were significant but not sufficient to explain the death,” a police official close to the investigation told news sources. “Toxicology tests have been ordered.”
The case has taken on added complexity after reports surfaced that Fr. Maina may have been threatened before his death. Detectives say he was allegedly being followed by individuals who demanded a portion of money they believed he received at the jubilee celebration, which also marked the ordination of Father Simon Thuita.
“He had confided to some parish members that he feared for his life,” said a local church official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the case. “But he never went to the police.”
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has confirmed it is pursuing multiple leads, including forensic evidence and witness statements, in an attempt to piece together the priest’s final days.
Father. Maina’s body was later moved to the Nyahururu Sub-County morgue for preservation and further examination. His death has shocked the tight-knit Catholic community in Laikipia County, with calls for justice growing louder.
“Father Maina served with humility and commitment,” said a statement from the Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu. “We mourn his loss and urge the authorities to get to the bottom of this tragic incident.”
So far, no arrests have been made, but detectives are said to be tracking several persons of interest. The DCI has promised a thorough and impartial investigation.
“We owe it to the family, to the Church, and to the people of Kenya to find the truth,” said a senior investigator.
As the country grapples with the implications of the case, many are asking whether the priest’s death is a one-off tragedy or a symptom of deeper problems in the intersection between faith, power, and money.
