Two suspects in the murder of Catholic priest Michael Maingi Kyengo were on Friday arraigned in court where the prosecution sought to have them detained for eight more days.
The two; Kavivya Mwangangi and Solomon Mutava were arraigned before Milimani Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Hellen Onkwani.
When asked whether he had anything to say about the request by investigators to detain him and his co-accused, Kavivya narrated to the court how they killed Father Kyengo and buried his remains in a shallow grave on the banks of a river in Kirinyaga County.
Kavivya, who was arrested on Thursday at his home in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, described how he tied the cleric’s hands and legs before he was butchered.
“My friend came to me and asked me to assist him to make some offering,” he told the court.
He further revealed that he was paid Sh1,500 for the mission by his friend Michael Mutunga, who is the prime suspect in the killing of the priest.
“Mutunga came in a car. I woke up, dressed up, and then boarded the car. I did not know where we were going to make the offering,” said Kavivya adding that they drove to a river and stopped.
“Mutunga left me in the car and strolled to the river bank. He returned and opened the boot of the vehicle. Inside, I saw a man who was naked. He gave me a rope and asked me to tie the man’s hands. We led him down the river and I was asked to tie his legs too.”
He said Mutunga asked the man to give him the password of his M-Pesa and bank accounts before transferring cash.
“My friend transferred sums of money then directed me to tie his hands and legs as he lay on the ground face down. He took a panga,” he narrated.
Magistrate Onkwani interjected, “It appears you want to confess how you killed the man.”
“Yes I want to confess how we killed the man and buried him by the riverbank,” the suspect replied.
The magistrate stopped him from giving further confessions and ordered the officer to present the suspect before a chief inspector of police to record the confession as required by law.
The case will be mentioned on November 6th.
Father Kyengo was allegedly kidnapped on October 8th while traveling from Tala to his Thatha parish in Masinga, Machakos County. A post-mortem examination revealed the cleric succumbed to stab wounds.
Mutunga, the prime suspect, is said to have told police during interrogation that he was in a gay relationship with the priest, according to The Standard.
