NAIROBI, Kenya — What began as a joyful celebration at Igwamiti Catholic Parish has now turned into a haunting mystery, as detectives investigate the sudden and suspicious death of Father John Maina.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the 49-year-old priest may have been targeted over money he allegedly received from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after presiding over the parish’s Silver Jubilee ceremony on April 27.
Gachagua, who attended the event alongside a host of politicians, has not commented publicly on the matter, but the alleged donation may have placed Fr. Maina in the crosshairs of dangerous individuals.
Fr. Maina’s final hours unfolded in grim fashion. On May 15, he was found by a boda boda rider near the Diotomite stage along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway.
Bruised and bleeding, the priest reportedly told the Good Samaritan that he had been abducted from Nyahururu.
He was rushed to St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil, where he died minutes after arrival. Despite visible head injuries, an autopsy conducted on May 19 by government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu ruled out trauma as the cause of death.
Detectives are now piecing together Fr. Maina’s last movements, pursuing digital forensics and eyewitness accounts. Complicating matters is the revelation that he had voiced fears about his safety but never reported those threats to authorities.
It’s unclear why he kept those fears private—though such silence is not uncommon in high-stakes church politics or when powerful figures are involved.
This case is no longer just about a priest’s tragic death. It’s about power, money, and silence. And it’s unfolding against the backdrop of an increasingly vocal public, with speculation swirling across social media.
The DCI, for its part, is urging calm and has committed to conducting a thorough investigation that will “secure justice for the victim and hold accountable those responsible for this heinous act.”
Anyone with credible information is being asked to step forward. You can reach DCI via toll-free lines 999, 112, or anonymously through #FichuaKwaDCI (0800 722 203).
