A dead priest, sealed report, and a silent church

A priest serving in Nyandarua County was found dead under mysterious circumstances along a busy highway nearly 50 kilometers from his parish, raising painful questions about his last moments and the silence surrounding his death.

Fr John Maina, who ministered at Igwamiti Catholic Parish, was discovered dead on the morning of Thursday, May 15, after disappearing the day before.

Detectives investigating the case have questioned a housekeeper, a close friend, and the priest himself before his death, but much remains unclear.

Fr Maina was last seen alive on Wednesday, May 14, when he drove from his parish to Mary Immaculate Church in Nyahururu Town. After parking his car, he left on foot, telling colleagues he was going into town to meet people. However, he never returned home that night.

According to the Daily Nation, his housekeeper, worried by his absence, confirmed that he had told her about the meeting earlier in the day.

"He told colleagues he was heading into town to meet some people," a source said.

When his body was found at Kikopey, his car was missing, though the keys were in his pocket, deepening the mystery of how he ended up at the roadside.

A postmortem conducted on Monday by Dr Titus Ngulungu at Pope Benedict Hospital in Nyahururu did not reveal much.

The doctor refused to share any findings, stating, "I am under instructions by the Father not to address the media. I’m sorry, I can’t tell you anything about the report."

The directive reportedly came from the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu, who initially promised a briefing but later declined.

Police suspect that Fr Maina’s body was moved after his death, possibly killed elsewhere and dumped along the highway.

Gilgil Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Rahamad Wasilwa confirmed this possibility, saying the initial investigation suggests the body was transported postmortem.

Adding to the intrigue, Fr Maina had recently hosted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during the church’s 25th anniversary celebrations at Igwamiti Parish, only two weeks before his death.

The event was notable, with Gachagua as chief guest.

Family members are struggling to understand the tragedy.

Fr Maina’s aunt shared her heartbreak, saying, "He was the one paying the hospital bill. I found it strange when he didn’t answer my calls. Later, I was devastated to learn he had been killed."

The family’s pain is compounded by the Catholic Church’s quiet response. Bishop Joseph Mbatia, who leads the diocese, has remained silent despite media requests.

The investigation continues as police try to uncover who Fr Maina was meeting and why his life was cut short in such a mysterious way.