Police get orders to detain priest's murder suspects

Friends, family and colleagues of slain catholic priest Eutychus Murangiri at his childhood home in Nkabune, Meru on June 5, 2019 to condole with his family. [Olivia Murithi, Standard]

A Meru court has allowed police to continue holding two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a Catholic priest.

Valentine Kinoti and Janice Ntinyari are said to be the last people to be seen with Eutychus Murangiri before he was stabbed to death at Makutano in Meru County on Monday night.

The three were seen drinking together at Kinoru Gateway Hotel.

Kinoti and Ntinyari appeared before Meru Senior Principal Magistrate Thomas Muraguri yesterday, where the police had filed an affidavit seeking orders to detain them so they could conclude their investigations.

The affidavit, sworn by Investigating Officer Benson Sindani, sought orders to detain the suspects for seven days.

The suspects will be held at Meru Police Station.

The case will be mentioned on June 16, when police are expected to brief the court on the progress of their investigations.

It is on the same date that the court will determine whether the two will be presented for plea taking or continue being detained.

Kinoti is said to be a childhood friend of Fr Murangiri.

In her statement to the police, Ntinyari claimed she had been in a relationship with Murangiri for the last six years.

Murangiri’s family admitted to knowing Kinoti but denied knowledge of any relationship between him and the woman.

Yesterday, the priest's family came out to defend his character.

His father, Domiciano Muthuri, said Murangiri, a second born in a family of six children, was well-behaved.

Mr Muthuri said his son showed interest in priesthood when he was still young and never turned back.

"I always told him to do the Lord’s work with diligence so his brothers would also desire the same. I desired that all my children would give themselves to the service of God,” he said.

Murangiri, who went to Meru School before joining the seminary, was described as bright, obedient and diligent.

Muthuri said he got the news of his son’s killing from another priest, Fr David Kaberia, who visited him on Tuesday.

"I also wish to state that my son was not involved with any woman. We do not even know her or where she is from,” said Muthuri.

Reports indicated that the priest had been drinking in the company of a woman before he was killed.

Fr Kinoti Kithure, the chairman of Catholic priests in Meru, said they would do everything to find their colleague's killer.