Catholic Priest Father John Maina from Nyandarua was brutally murdered, dying from multiple gunshot wounds.
The slain Nyandarua Catholic priest, Father John Maina, died from multiple gunshot wounds, amid questions about the guarded post-mortem examination report.
One of the bullets went through his head, severely damaging his skull, Nation established based on accounts by those who observed the body during a post mortem examination on Monday.
He had multiple gunshot wounds elsewhere on his body. By Monday afternoon, his body was still covered in blood.
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.
“The body is in bad shape, it was badly mutilated ,” said a detective who witnessed the postmortem examination adding it had begun decomposing by the time it was retrieved.
His body was found on Thursday, May 15, along the busy Nakuru-Nairobi highway at Kikopey, about 50km from his work place.
The priest had hosted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the Igwamiti Catholic Parish a fortnight ago. Mr Gachagua was the chief guest during the church’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Slain Catholic Priest Father John Maina from Nyandarua.
On Tuesday, Government pathologist Titus Ngulungu performed the post mortem examination at Pope Benedict Catholic Hospital mortuary, about five kilometers from Nyahururu town.
However, Dr Ngulungu, who was to issue a statement after the exercise, declined to speak with journalists, citing strict instructions by the Church not to discuss the report with anyone.
The postmortem examination was witnessed by relatives, the Nyahururu Diocese Vicar General Fr Timothy Maina and 10 other priests.
Relatives who spoke to the Nation expressed dissatisfaction with how the church has handled the matter.
Detectives from Gilgil in Nakuru County who are investigating the murder also appeared to have scanty information four days after the death.
Investigators, however, believe Fr Maina was murdered elsewhere and his body dumped at Kikopey.
The detective’s focus is on the priest’s last moments and how he ended up at Kikopey, about 50 kilometers from Igwamiti Catholic Parish, where he was the parish priest with one priest under him.
Ms Susan Njambi, an aunt to the slain priest, recalled that the priest didn’t answer her calls on Thursday last week on the day his body was found at Kikopey.
“I was at Kinangop Mission Hospital, where his uncle was admitted. 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,” said Ms Njambi
“We want to know who killed him and why. We are saddened by the death of our son,” said Ms Njambi.
Fr Maina was born in Ng’arua in Laikipia where he went to school before joining the Seminary, and later ordained as a Catholic Priest about 10 years ago. He was the fourth born in a family of 10. The family later settled in Karagoini area in Ndaragua Constituency, Nyandarua.
Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha mourned the priest, describing him as a development-conscious person.
“Fr Maina was a close friend, I am saddened by his death, my condolences to the family and the catholic church,” said the governor.
Police say the postmortem report is vital in unraveling those behind the priest’s murder.
Passersby discovered Father Maina’s body by the roadside and took his body to St Joseph Hospital in Gilgil.
Fr Maina will be buried on Thursday at Tabor Hill Catholic cemetery in Ol Joro Orok Constituency.
