The shocking death of Catholic priest Father John Maina has taken a new twist. According to detectives, the murder may be linked to a cash donation allegedly given to him by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a church event in Nyahururu.
Father Maina, who served at Igwamiti Parish, presided over a high-profile Silver Jubilee celebration on April 27, which was attended by Gachagua and other politicians. Days later, he was found injured and barely conscious along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway. He later died while receiving treatment at St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) now believes that the priest had been followed by individuals demanding a cut of the donation he supposedly received after the event.
According to the DCI, Father Maina had privately expressed fears for his life but never filed a formal police report.
On May 15, a motorcycle rider spotted the injured priest near the Diotomite stage. Fr. Maina reportedly told the Good Samaritan that he had been abducted from Nyahururu. He was rushed to the hospital with visible head injuries but died shortly after being admitted.
Initial reports had claimed the priest was murdered and his body dumped by the roadside. However, the DCI clarified that he passed away in the hospital, not at the scene. His body was later transferred to the Nyahururu Sub-County morgue, where an autopsy was performed.
Government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu found that the head injuries were not the direct cause of death. This prompted a call for further toxicological tests to determine whether other substances may have played a role.
As speculation grows over what happened, investigators have already recorded several statements and are continuing their probe.
The DCI has urged the public to stay calm and allow the investigation to unfold, as they work to get to the bottom of what led to the tragic death of the well-known priest.
The case has stirred nationwide concern, especially as it touches on church funds, politics, and allegations of targeted violence.
By Yockshard Enyendi