A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of Catholic priest Father John Maina Ndegwa has returned inconclusive results, prompting authorities to intensify investigations into the circumstances surrounding his mysterious death.
The examination, carried out on Monday, May 19 in Nyahururu, revealed that Father Maina had minor bruises on his head, but not severe enough to directly cause his death.
A police officer, who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity, confirmed that toxicological tests are now underway.
“A physical examination of the body indicated that he had minor bruises on his head, which are unlikely to be the cause of death.
We are waiting for the toxicology report to establish if any harmful substances were involved,” the officer stated.
Father Maina, a priest serving under the Catholic Diocese of Laikipia, was discovered alive but unconscious along a roadside near Kikopey in Gilgil on Thursday, May 15.
A passerby rushed him to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he briefly and faintly communicated with doctors before tragically passing away.
However, he was unable to reveal any details about the injuries or the events leading up to his condition.
“The resident took him to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he briefly but faintly communicated with the doctors.
Unfortunately, he died before he was able to provide information about the circumstances surrounding his condition,” the officer added.
In a key development, police have located Father Maina’s vehicle, which had been reported missing.
It was found abandoned in Nyahururu, several kilometers from where the priest was discovered.
“The priest’s vehicle is still in Nyahururu, so we do not know how or with whom he travelled to Kikopey.
It appears someone may have harmed him elsewhere and then dumped him in Kikopey as a cover-up,” said the officer.
Investigators are now treating the case as suspicious, with potential foul play not ruled out.
Authorities are particularly interested in the priest’s final movements and communications.
Detectives are currently working with Safaricom to analyze call data records in an effort to identify individuals he may have contacted before his death.
“We are working with Safaricom to identify the person the priest contacted before his body was found in Kikopey.
In addition, people who came into contact with him before his murder will be investigated,” confirmed Gilgil DCI head Rahamad Wasilwa.
Police have not yet officially declared the incident a homicide, but investigators believe that Father Maina was possibly moved to Kikopey after being harmed elsewhere.
Adding a political dimension to the case, it has emerged that Father Maina had hosted the former Deputy President at his church in Laikipia on April 27, 2025, just two weeks before his death.
While no direct link has been established between the visit and the priest’s death, the connection is expected to be reviewed as part of the broader investigation.
The Catholic Church and the local community have expressed shock and grief over the incident, with calls for a thorough and transparent investigation to uncover the truth behind the priest’s untimely death.
Toxicology results are expected in the coming weeks, which may provide crucial answers in unraveling what remains one of the most perplexing deaths in recent times in the region.
