Watchman charged over pastor’s killing in Mombasa

By Willis Oketch and Joseph Masha

Mombasa, Kenya: A watchman who was guarding a church where a local priest was shot dead on Saturday at Mishomoroni in Mombasa has been charged with failing to prevent a felony.

Cornelious Kai, who was arrested on Sunday after Pastor Charles Mathole was killed by unknown gunmen, denied the charges before Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate James Ombura.

The accused, who was unrepresented, denied that on October 19 at Redeemed Gospel Church in Kisauni in Mombasa County, being a security guard at the church, he failed to prevent a felony.

The accused was ordered to return to court after two-weeks for the mention of his case as investigators try to unearth the motive behind the killing of the pastor.

The killing, which has sparked off protests among church members, left many Christians shocked as the pastor was praying in the church when he was gunned down.

Mathole was killed, church faithful claimed, as he was planning to open additional branches in the town and other parts of the province.