The Catholic Church in Ruai, where the late Father Joseph Kariuki, 43, served, has announced the dates for his requiem mass.
The deceased’s first requiem mass will be held on July 11, 2023, at St Peter’s Parish in Ruai, and on July 12, 2023, at St John the Baptist Parish in Mangu, beginning at 2pm.
Following that, a funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s Msongari grounds at 10:30 a.m., and he will be laid to rest on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Clergy Cemetery.
The late Father Karis’s death continues to be infamous considering he died after a reported night out at a guest house with his girlfriend, 32, of six years.
The Catholic Church does not allow its religious leaders to marry and requires them to abstain from sex for the rest of their lives.
According to the police, Father Kariuki went to Muranga County to have fun and meet up with his girlfriend at their favourite hotel, where they had been meeting for the past two years.
It was reported that he spent Sh 6,000 on food and alcohol last Friday evening and had a good time. However, he died under mysterious circumstances on Saturday morning.
His girlfriend allegedly told the hotel reception that she was his colleague and was thus allowed to see him. It was the same hotel reception she rushed back to for help the next morning after noticing her boyfriend was becoming dizzy and unconscious.
Two hotel employees and the priest’s girlfriend then escorted the naked but covered in a bed sheet, unconscious priest to his personal car and rushed him to the hospital.
He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. White foam was seen oozing from his mouth and nose.
Police at the hotel sampled the food and drinks he took and the girlfriend was also questioned.
Despite the mysterious death of Father Karis, parishioners at the Ruai Church left glowing tributes to the deceased.Â
