A moment of grief has engulfed in the Kenyan Catholic church after two priests were fatally shot in less than a week, raising concerns over clergy safety.
In the first incident, Fr. John Maina Ndegwa, who is the Igwamiti parish priest in Nyandarua County, Nyahururu Diocese, was discovered injured and disoriented along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway near Diotomite stage. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Fr. Maina was found by a motorcycle rider, who rushed him to St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil with head injuries. He however succumbed to the injuries hours after being admitted.
Fr. Maina was last seen while presiding over a silver jubilee celebration at his parish, an event graced by Kenyan politician Rigathi Gachagua and other political leaders. It is reported that his assailants abducted him and demanded a portion of the money he allegedly received from the politicians.
He was buried on Thursday May 22, at the Tabor Hill Spirituality Center, in a funeral mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Mbatia, who expressed his faith that the truth will be revealed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Three days later after the killing of the Nyahururu diocese-based priest, unknown assailants murdered yet another priest, Fr. Alois Cheruiyot Bet in Kabartile area, Kerio Valley, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
who served at St. Mattias Lumumba Tot Parish was shot by armed assailants after celebrating a jumuiya mass with his parishioners.
Police have issued a statement regarding the murder reiterating that six suspects have been apprehended and are currently in custody. The police further added that preliminary investigations indicate that the incident is not in any way related to cattle rustling or banditry.
Kenyans have since urged the Ministry of Interior to expedite probe into the two murders and ensure the culprits are brought to book.
