Father John Main was a beloved priest, known for his humility and service at Igwamiti Parish in Nyahururu. But behind his calm demeanor, Father John Maina was a man living in fear.
Days after hosting a high-profile church event attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the priest confided to close allies that his life was in danger.
Now, detectives have revealed that Father Maina was being trailed over money he allegedly received from Gachagua. His mysterious death, once clouded by rumors, has taken a disturbing turn.
Detectives Reveal Father John Maina Was Targeted Over Political Cash Gift
Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have dropped a bombshell in the ongoing probe into the murder of Father John Maina. The Catholic priest, who was based at Igwamiti Parish in Nyahururu, was reportedly trailed by individuals who believed he had received a large sum of money from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
DCI said Maina presided over a Silver Jubilee Anniversary at the church on April 27, 2025, an event attended by Gachagua and other political leaders. After the event, word spread that Gachagua had handed him a generous donation — a gesture that would later place the priest’s life in grave danger.
According to the DCI, unknown individuals began following Father Maina, demanding a share of the cash. The priest reportedly confided to close church associates that he felt his life was in danger, although no formal complaint was filed with the police.
These latest revelations have cast new light on what appeared at first to be a random act of violence. Detectives are now focusing on financial motives and political connections that may have played a key role in Father Maina’s tragic death.
Priest Warned He Was in Danger but No Report Was Filed
Before his death, Father John Maina had shared chilling concerns with his inner circle. He told them he feared for his life, citing pressure and threats from individuals who believed he was sitting on a large amount of money allegedly donated by Gachagua.
Yet despite his fears, the priest never formally reported the threats to police. DCI investigators believe this silence may have emboldened his pursuers. With no protection or investigation triggered early, Maina became an easy target.
His decision not to involve authorities has now become a critical element of the ongoing probe, as detectives race to identify and apprehend those who had the motive and opportunity to harm him.
Death Was Not on the Highway as Initially Reported
Contrary to earlier media reports, Father John Maina did not die at the scene or have his body dumped by the roadside. New findings reveal a more complicated and tragic series of events.
On May 15, 2025, Maina was found by a boda boda rider near the Diotomite stage along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway. He was injured and bleeding, but still alive. The priest reportedly told the rider that he had been abducted from Nyahururu — a chilling statement that supports the DCI’s theory of a targeted operation.
The Good Samaritan rushed Maina to St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil. Despite immediate medical intervention, the priest succumbed to his injuries shortly after being admitted.
This sequence of events strongly suggests that Father Maina was abducted, assaulted, and left for dead — but not before briefly regaining consciousness and naming Nyahururu as the abduction point. Autopsy Raises New Questions as Toxicology Tests Ordered
The autopsy conducted on May 19 by government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu has deepened the mystery. While Maina had visible head injuries, the autopsy ruled them out as the direct cause of death.
This surprising result has prompted the DCI to order further toxicological analysis, signaling the possibility that the priest may have been poisoned or drugged.
Until the results return, detectives are keeping all options open. The ruling out of blunt trauma as the cause of death suggests a more sophisticated or concealed method may have been used to kill the priest.
Meanwhile, the body was transferred to Nyahururu Sub-County morgue at the request of his church community for further preservation and examination.
A Murder That Demands Answers
Father John Maina’s sudden and violent death has shaken the Catholic community and the wider public. Once dismissed as a tragic accident or roadside killing, his demise now appears to be the result of a calculated plan by individuals motivated by greed and political connections.
As the DCI continues its probe, questions swirl around the events of April 27 and the donation allegedly made by Rigathi Gachagua. What was the actual amount handed over? Who else knew about it? And who stood to benefit from silencing the priest?
Father Maina served his parish with dignity and humility. The least he deserves now is justice. Detectives have already recorded several statements and are urging members of the public with any information to come forward.
The story of Father John Maina is no longer just about a murdered priest. It’s about the dangerous intersection of politics, money, and silence — and the deadly cost one man paid for being in the middle of it.
