Pastor arrested after woman they used to meet for 'prayer sessions' found dead in Ruiru

50-year-old Christopher Kiptum Keter was flushed out of his hideout in Embakasi's Mukuru kwa Njenga slums on Tuesday, March 7. He had been on the run since February 8, 2023, after allegedly killing Christine Makena Maingi.

According to police reports, Kiptum who is believed to be a pastor was the last person who was seen with the deceased. 

CCTV footage and mobile phone communications obtained by detectives revealed that the two were together on the nights of February 5th and 6th before the decomposing body of Makena was discovered two days later in a residential building in Gathogora area within Ruiru Sub-County.

At the scene of the crime, drugs were also recovered giving the investigators an initial impression that the deceased took her own life through a drug overdose. 

However, an autopsy conducted on the body of the deceased indicated that she died due to strangulation ruling out suicide speculations.

Police reports further say that the suspect and the deceased regularly met at the deceased's home where she lived with her parents. At the time of the incident, the family members had traveled upcountry.

Makena is said to have introduced the suspect as a pastor and they would regularly meet for prayer sessions. The two first met on a journey from Mombasa to Nairobi early this year.

The suspect is in police custody awaiting arraignment on Thursday for the offense of murder contrary to section 203 of the penal code.

Makena was laid to rest on 18th February in Meru County.