Detectives have arrested three hitmen allegedly hired to kill a prominent pastor and his wife in Nakuru, marking a major breakthrough in a case that has terrorized the community since November.
The bodies of Pastor Kihiti and his wife Wanjiku were discovered after the couple, who lived alone, failed to attend church. Wanjiku’s body was found in the living room, while Kihiti’s lay in the bedroom. Post-mortem examinations revealed both died from blunt force trauma to the head. Kihiti also suffered fractures to his shoulder and hands, indicating a desperate struggle before death.
The killings sparked widespread outrage, with residents demanding swift action against what they described as a wave of “targeted murders” of the elderly.
On Monday, Nakuru County Criminal Investigations Officer Samuel Ngeiywo announced that months of forensic work led to the apprehension of Richard Wanjala, Michael Kipsang Maritim, and Collins Wekesa Wanyonyi.
According to Mr Ngeiywo, the first suspect was arrested on March 27. During interrogation, he led detectives to the other two, who were apprehended on March 30 within Rongai.
The suspects alleged the killings were motivated by a land dispute and revealed they had been hired by an individual who remains at large. Mr Ngeiywo said the three in custody had identified their employer, who has since gone into hiding, adding that investigators are still pursuing other suspects.
The trio appeared before the Molo Law Courts on March 30, where detectives were granted a 30-day window to finalize the case. They are scheduled to return to court on April 27.