NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called for an expedited investigation into the mysterious death of Father John Maina Ndegwa, a Catholic priest who recently hosted him at a church celebration in Nyandarua.
Fr. Maina, 49, was found injured and bleeding by the roadside on May 15, barely two weeks after leading a Silver Jubilee Mass at Igwamiti Catholic Parish attended by Gachagua and several other political leaders.
He died shortly after being rushed to St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil.
“The passing on of Fr. John is utterly painful,” Gachagua wrote on X. “He lived in truth and spoke it boldly. Two weeks before his death, he gave a powerful sermon and spoke his mind on the state of the nation.”
The former Deputy President revealed that Fr. Maina was not just a cleric but also a longtime personal friend and confidant.
“I call upon the security agencies to speed up the investigation and bring the culprits of this heinous act to book,” he said.
The passing on of Fr. John Maina Ndegwa, the Parish priest, Igwamiti Parish in Nyandarua is utterly painful.Fr. John was a great Soul and a shepherd of the Lord’s flock; he lived in Truth and spoke the truth without fear or favour just as Christ would have done.Two weeks
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), detectives are exploring the possibility that Fr. Maina’s death may be linked to a cash donation allegedly given to him by Gachagua during the April 27 Jubilee celebrations.
While the donation has not been confirmed publicly, its mention has raised questions about whether it could have made the priest a target.
DCI sources say Fr. Maina was abducted in Nyahururu before being dumped near the Diotomite stage along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway.
A boda boda rider found him alive but injured, and Fr. Maina reportedly claimed he had been kidnapped. He died minutes after arrival at the hospital.
While he sustained visible bruises and head injuries, a government pathologist ruled out physical trauma as the cause of death, adding to the mystery.
The priest had reportedly confided in close associates that he feared for his safety in the days following the Jubilee Mass, though he never reported any threats to police.
Investigators are now combing through his communications and tracing his final movements.
The Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu has yet to release an official statement, though clergy and parishioners across the region have expressed shock and dismay.
Human rights groups and church leaders are now urging authorities not to let the matter fade from public attention.
