The brutal murder of Father John Maina has taken a chilling new twist, with detectives now suggesting that the late priest may have been targeted over a high-profile church donation allegedly made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
According to revelations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Tuesday, Fr. Maina—of Igwamiti Parish in Nyahururu—had been trailed by unknown individuals demanding a share of money he supposedly received after presiding over a church event on April 27, which Gachagua and other politicians attended.
“It has been established that Fr. Maina was being trailed by some individuals who were demanding a share of the money allegedly given to him,” read a statement from DCI.
Priest Feared for His Life
Shockingly, detectives say Fr. Maina had confided to close associates that he felt his life was in danger—though no formal complaint was ever filed at any police station. This revelation has sparked public concern over why security agencies didn’t act preemptively despite the priest’s fears.
Contrary to initial reports that the priest’s body was dumped along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway, DCI clarified that Fr. Maina died at St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil, shortly after being found by a Good Samaritan with visible head injuries.
The boda boda rider who found him said Fr. Maina claimed he had been abducted in Nyahururu. He was bleeding from the left side of his head and succumbed to injuries minutes after arriving at the hospital.
Autopsy Raises More Questions
A post-mortem conducted on May 19 by government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu ruled out head trauma as the direct cause of death, prompting toxicology tests to determine whether he may have been poisoned or drugged—adding a mysterious layer to an already complex investigation.
The DCI says multiple statements have already been recorded, and toxicology results will be pivotal in shaping the next phase of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the public has been urged to remain calm as detectives piece together what could turn out to be a murder over money—potentially linked to one of Kenya’s most powerful political figures.
The nation now waits for answers—Was Fr. Maina killed over church cash? Or is there a deeper conspiracy at play?
