Police recover banking slips in Catholic priest’s murder probe

Police have recovered bank withdrawal receipts of accounts held by slain Catholic Priest Michael Maingi Kyengo.

The receipts were recovered in Mnarani area, Kilifi County in a house said to have been rented by Michael Mutunga, the main suspect in the murder.

According to police, the house was rented two days after the priest was killed.

The withdrawal of the money drew the attention of police who were in Nairobi before driving there to confirm the same.

Also recovered were newly purchased household items costing Sh60,000, supermarket receipts as well as blood-stained clothes which have since been taken to the government chemist for forensic analysis.

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said the garage where the deceased’s vehicle color was changed from black to white on October 12, 2019 has also identified.

The body of the slain priest buried in a shallow grave was exhumed on October 16, 2019.

Kyengo was accosted on October 8 while traveling from Tala to his Thatha parish in Masinga and driven to Embu where he was ‘slaughtered’ and buried on the riverside of a seasonal river.

He had been on leave and had gone home, Tala Kangundo, to look after his parents.

Witnesses said on the fateful day, the priest was in the company of a worker who had been fencing his compound in Tala.

He reportedly dropped off the worker at Kaewa market and then headed towards Masinga resort at around 9pm.

Reports indicate that he was kidnapped on his way there by the killers who apparently strangled him.

Another suspect, 44-year-old Solomon Mutava, was arrested in connection with the gruesome murder after he was allegedly found in possession of the priest’s car which he drove from Embu to Kilifi.

He was arrested along the Mombasa Highway as he drove the car back to Nairobi.

Probe into the matter is ongoing. Police say they are yet to establish the motive of the murder.