Suspect in murder of Catholic priest Michael Maingi Kyengo arrested

A 44-year-old man was on Friday arrested in connection to the gruesome murder of Machakos Catholic priest, Father Michael Maingi Kyengo.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Solomon Mutava is alleged to have been caught in possession of the priest’s car which he drove from Embu to Kilifi.

Taking to Twitter, the DCI further revealed that the suspected murder weapon, a sharp knife, was also recovered from a pit latrine at Gategi Centre in Mwea.

“…The suspected murder weapon (sharp knife) was recovered from a pit latrine at Gategi Centre in Mwea-Embu where the main suspect; Michael Mutunga had rented two rooms,” said the DCI.

The main suspect in the priest’s murder, Michael Mutunga was arrested earlier after he was found with blood stained clothes in his rented house in Gategi Centre in Mwea-Embu.

“Blood stained clothes belonging to Mutunga which he had tried to wash were also found and taken to the government chemist for further forensic analysis,” continued the DCI.

The body of the Catholic priest was found buried in a shallow grave almost a week after he was reported missing. Father Kyengo’s body was discovered in a sack with his throat slit and body cut up.

Michael Maingi Kyengo was waylaid on October 8 while he was traveling from Tala to his Thatha parish in Masinga.

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

The killers apparently strangled him to death then buried the body near the seasonal river, Gathingiri river, in Embu.

On Wednesday, police officers and government pathologists exhumed the body from Mashamba area, Makima location in Mbeere South.