Murdered Catholic priest Eulogised as social and loving

The casket with the remains of Fr Eutychus Murangiri, 32 a catholic priest who was murdered in Meru. [Darlington Manyara/Standard]

Speakers at the funeral service held for Eutychus Murangiri at Muujwa Catholic Church in Imenti Central eulogised him as a loving and social youth.

The Catholic priest killed last week in Meru's Makutano Township was yesterday buried at a sendoff attended by hundreds of faithfuls.

Father Henry Karigi read the Eulogy on behalf of the church, saying the 32-year-old priest left a "legacy" and "will be remembered for the short time he served."

“He was a social and understanding man who could socialise with every group. He was a very jovial man who could make everyone happy. In the seminary life, he was loved by everyone due to his entertainment character,” said Fr Karigi.

The priest added that Fr Murangiri underwent spiritual, social, intellectual and human formation, before he was ordained to priesthood.

“During his priest formation, he was given notable responsibilities, including being master of ceremonies in liturgical functions, and also head of students at St Joseph's Major Seminary in Nairobi,” Karigi added.

At the same time, several mourners and clerics who spoke at the mass urged authorities to speed up investigation and bring to book the priest's killers.

Nyaki East MCA Robbert Kithinji, who went to the same primary school with Murangiri, lamented that cases of insecurity were rife in Meru and asked police to do their best to bring to book the killers.

Fr Elias Kithuri, who chairs the priest's forum in Meru, called for heighten security measures in the town, adding that criminal elements were on the prowl and an acute action would suffice.

“Two to three weeks ago a doctor was attacked in the same town. This tells us that crime in Makutano, where the Fr was killed, and Meru town, has grown,” said Fr Kithuri.

Murangiri was buried at Muujwa Catholic cemetery. He worked in Kirogine, Igandene, Kiamuri and Nkabune parish in preparation for diaconate and priestly ordination.

He was ordained as a priest on June 6, last year by Bishop Salesius Mugambi.