Suspected murder of PCEA Tabuga church clergy sparks public outrage in Bahati

Police in Bahati are investigating the death of a Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Reverend at PCEA Tabuga Church in Lanet.

Rev Julias Ndumia’s lifeless body was found lying in a pool of blood inside his house within the church compound.

Alarm was first sounded by a school’ head teacher who had arrived at the church ECDE and found the offices broken into.

He alerted one of the church evangelists who later informed police officers.

Nakuru County Police Commander, Samuel Boit, said Ndumia could have been attacked by unknown assailants at around 3am.

“The attackers first broke down the office and later tricked Ndumia into opening the door using the security guard attached at the church,” he explains.

Boit notes that the attacker proceeded to bound the hands of the pastor and that of the guard, who was seriously assaulted and is currently receiving treatment.

“Their hands and legs were bound. The security guard was rescued having sustained deep cut wounds and unconscious and rushed to Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital where he is receiving treatment while under protection,” Boit notes, mentioning the security personnel will be a key witness in the ongoing investigations.

He further notes the house was ransacked and nothing was stolen as the deceased's mobile phone was found at the scene. It seemed like they were looking for something at the office and in the house.

Boit says preliminary investigations indicates that the church leader succumbed to injuries inflicted on him at the back of his head where they suspect he was hit with an axe.

“We want to assure residents here that investigations have commenced. Those responsible for this heinous act will be brought to book as our investigator works around the clock to ensure they are arrested,” he notes.

He continued “We are yet to establish what they were looking for but investigations will unearth everything. We call for members of the public who may have information on this incident to volunteer it to police to aid with the investigations,” he notes.

Former Bahati Member of parliament Onesmus Ngunjiri urged detectives to collect and protect the CCTV footage for examination to help in the investigation.

Ngunjiri described Rev Ndumia as a personal friend who was known for championing peace and never allowed politicians to use the pulpit in spreading politics of hatred.

The former Mp called on police to beef up security in Lanet saying that insecurity has become too much.

“One life lost is one too many. We call upon Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to equip police stations with police vehicles and fuel which will aid in patrols and timely response when called,” he notes.

“It is sad that thugs are now targeting ‘men of the cloth’. We will not allow this to go without action, cases of insecurity have been on the rise in Bahati, and we want police to come up with a lasting action, failure to which we will take matters into our hands to ensure we protect ourselves.,” he says

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