They were voices of comfort, figures of hope, and pillars in their communities. Loved by many, these Catholic priests dedicated their lives to service, but their journeys were cut short in brutal and unexpected ways. Their murders left parishes in mourning and entire towns in shock.
Here are five Catholic priests whose mysterious and tragic deaths continue to haunt Kenya:
Bishop Luigi Locati
Bishop Locati, an Italian missionary who served the Isiolo community for over 40 years, was shot and killed on July 14, 2005, while walking to his residence.
The killing was orchestrated by fellow Catholic priest Father Guyo Waqo Malley and four others, who were convicted and initially sentenced to life in prison. Their sentences were later reduced to 27 years.
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Despite his tragic end, Bishop Locati’s legacy lives on through the educational institutions he founded, now merged and renamed the Bishop Locati Training Institute.
Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett
Father Bett of Tot Catholic Parish in Marakwet East was ambushed and fatally shot on May 2, 2025, while returning from leading community prayers known locally as Jumuiya.
The attack occurred near Kabartile Village, just a kilometre from a police station, as he walked back with a catechist who remains missing. A swift response by the General Service Unit (GSU) led to the arrest of six suspects. Authorities ruled out cattle rustling and banditry, suggesting it was a targeted act of violence.
President William Ruto mourned Father Bett, calling him a tireless promoter of peace, and pledged to ensure justice is served.
Father John Maina Ndegwa
Father Ndegwa, head of Igwamiti Catholic Parish in Nyandarua, was found severely injured and dumped by the roadside along the Nakuru-Gilgil highway on May 16, 2025.
A Good Samaritan rushed him to St. Joseph Hospital in Gilgil, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The late Fr John Maina
Police suspect he was attacked elsewhere and later abandoned in Kikopey, over 50 kilometres from his parish. Investigations are ongoing. He was buried on May 22, 2025, at Tabor Hill Spirituality Centre in Ol-Joro Orok.
Father John Njoroge Muhia
On December 10, 2018, Father Muhia of St. Peter the Rock Parish in Kinoo, Kiambu County, was fatally shot during a robbery while en route to deposit church offerings.
He was ambushed by armed assailants on motorcycles who opened fire when he hesitated to surrender his bag. Father Muhia died shortly after being taken to the hospital. A beloved priest, he had served the parish for only six months. He was laid to rest on December 17, 2018, in Kinoo.
Father Martin Macharia Njoroge
Father Njoroge of St. Francis Xaverian Parish in Parklands, Nairobi, died in 2003 after succumbing to gunshot wounds sustained during a violent carjacking on the city’s outskirts.
Despite complying with the attackers, he was shot four times at close range. A Good Samaritan found him and rushed him to Aga Khan Hospital, where three bullets were removed. He died on the operating table while doctors attempted to remove the fourth bullet lodged in his lung.
Ordained just four years earlier, Father Martin’s death was a profound loss for the Nairobi Catholic community.
Other Catholic priests in Kenya whose deaths sparked public concern and remain clouded in mystery include Father John Anthony Kaiser and Father Evans Juma Oduor.
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