Bizarre drawings found in house of teacher found dead in concrete coffin

At the trading centre, residents huddled together trying to come to terms with just what could have happened to the teacher of Biology at Muhoya Secondary School.

Described by villagers and town residents as simply a good man, Muhoya seemed to possess a double personality. On one hand, a shopkeeper at Ihururu who sold him cigarettes described him as a 'social person, but his landlord Kariuki Njama said he was a loner.

Other residents we spoke to said he loved indulging in political and football banter, but others said he kept to himself. Others spoke of a smart gentleman who ironed his clothes well, and for the 19 years he lived there he did not quarrel with anyone.

"But one strange thing is we never saw him with anyone, not even a girlfriend," said a local.

Inside Gathogo's house are pinned-up printouts and notebooks that contain Egyptian hieroglyphs.

The rental unit where teacher Joseph Gathogo was found dead. [Jefitha Mwai, Standard]

"The coffin was made of concrete but covered with plywood. There was a black flag with mysterious drawings and writings. I have never seen such a thing in my life, very shocking," said Njama.

Njama described Gathogo as a 'very intelligent' person who never allowed visitors into his house. "He was very neat and organised," he said.

Gathogo's brother Kiama said a few days before the body was discovered, he was digging a hole behind the teacher's house but did not find anything amiss.

Detectives pried open the concrete coffin and discovered Joseph Gathogo's body. [Jefitha Mwai, Standard]

"There was no smell and since the house has two doors, one was locked from the outside while the bedroom door was locked from the inside," he said.

Ihururu OCS Philip Mwania, who had inspected the scene, said police are treating Gathogo's death as suicide, but were awaiting a postmortem that could be conducted on Tuesday next week to determine the exact cause of death.