Shock as priest’s body exhumed

By MURIMI MWANGI and LYDIAH NYAWIRA

NYERI; KENYA: Members of staff at Mathari Consolata Mission in Nyeri are in shock after they woke up yesterday to find the body of an Italian Catholic priest buried nearly two years ago exhumed.

Dominic Jordan, a former head teacher at a local Catholic school in Nyeri was buried at the special cemetery at the mission hospital reserved for Catholic fathers, sisters and brothers.

His grave had been dug from one side, leaving one part of the coffin partially exposed.

At scene were two pairs of medical gloves, a jembe and two spades believed to have been used by the suspects.

Nyeri Central acting OCPD Joseph Mwika, who managed to obtain a court order yesterday to fully exhume the body, said it was baffling to figure out why people would do such a thing.

In the presence of nuns and priests from the mission, police retrieved the partly exposed body only to realise it was that of the priest who died nearly two years ago.

Mwika said they would open investigations to find out why the grave had been interfered with.

“We need to find out what was the motive of the people who did this. What were they looking for? It is very baffling,” the police boss said.

The priest in charge of Mathari Parish Bartholomew Mwangi said the church would conduct a cleansing ceremony.

Fresh burial

Mwangi said they would also conduct a fresh burial for the priest.

The body was later moved to the Mathari Mission Hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, 10 families have been left homeless after their houses were razed on Tuesday night in Mweiga town, Nyeri County.

Central Region Police spokesman Ephantus Kiura said the cause of the fire was yet to be established, but no injuries were reported.

In Murang’a County at Saba Saba town, two people were yesterday robbed of Sh163,000 at gun-point.

“The victims reported to our officers in Saba Saba Police Station that they were riding on a motorcycle when they were confronted by four men armed with a pistol,” Kiura said.