Police arrest Catholic priest over shooting of colleague

By DANIEL NZIA

A suspended senior Catholic priest has been arrested over the shooting of a colleague early this year.

Police picked Father John Wambua Makewa, who was in charge of Makueni Parish at the time of the incident, from his rural home in Kangundo on Saturday night.

He allegedly shot and injured Father Fidelis Nzuki as he reportedly opened fire to repulse gangsters who had raided his Wote residence on March 20.

His arrest comes after the State, through a State counsel at the Attorney General’s office in Machakos approved an attempted murder charge against the priest.

Kangundo OCPD Isaiah Odhiambo told The Standard police arrested the priest and locked him up at the local police station overnight.

Mr Odhiambo said detectives from Makueni led by the local CID boss Joseph Mumira arrested the Catholic cleric.

Machakos Catholic Diocese Bishop Martin Musonde Kivuva who spoke to The Standard on the telephone from Malindi termed the matter weighty.

Bishop Kivuva, who suspended Makewa for two years, said the Church would not interfere with the matter in any way.

The shot priest is recuperating at a Catholic centre in Mlolongo town.