DCI detectives arrest two suspects over murder of Nakuru pastor

The late Rev Julius Ndumia, who served as the parish minister in charge at PCEA Tabuga Parish in Lanet, Bahati Sub-county, Nakuru County. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Homicide Unit, in collaboration with other investigative agencies, has zeroed in on two suspects in the murder of a Nakuru-based cleric.

According to the DCI, the two suspects were traced to an undisclosed location in Nakuru on Saturday following the brutal murder of Rev Julius Ndumia of PCEA Tabuga church on May 3, 2026.

The murder of the parish in-charge at his official residence within the church compound is shrouded in mystery with the church leadership and members remaining tight-lipped about the incident.

The silence has raised questions over who might have wanted the pastor dead, and whether this was a normal robbery with violence or an issue within the church.

As detectives seek to unravel these questions, they have revealed that those in custody do not hold any roles in the church nor are they members of the congregation.

"We have two suspects in our custody and they are helping us with the investigations. After the arrest, we established that they are not church members nor officials at any capacity," a detective told The Standard.

Arrest of the two suspects led to the discovery of items believed to have been stolen from the pastor's house during the raid.

"The suspects were found in possession of valuables among them mobile phones and cash confirmed to be among the items stolen from the late cleric," said the DCI in a statement.

The suspects who are being held in a Nakuru Police Station have been questioned by detectives whose initial report indicates that they may not have acted alone.

"Detectives are conducting advanced forensic analyses and meticulously reviewing critical evidence believed to be linked to a wider criminal network behind the heinous act. We are making every effort to apprehend all individuals involved," the DCI said.

During the attack, the assailants caused grievous harm on the church guard Benard Nyamwaka who was hospitalised and discharged. 

Nakuru County Police Commander Samuel Boit said that Nyamwaka had been placed under witness protection, making him a crucial person in the investigations and subsequent prosecution of the suspects.

Nyamwaka was found fighting for his life within the church compound on the morning of the incident by a teacher who alerted the church elders.

Pastor Ndumia was found murdered in his nearby house which had been ransacked.

A post-mortem on the late Rev Ndumia's body revealed that he died due to excessive bleeding resulting from deep cuts on the back of his head and serious injuries on his throat which made it hard for him to breath.

The locals claim that this was not an isolated case, stating that many have recently survived in the hands of criminals at their homes and on the roads.