A tragic incident unfolded at a hotel in Murang’a County, leading to the untimely death of Fr. Joseph Kariuki Wanjiku, a Catholic priest who served as the parish priest at St. Peter’s Church in Ruai.
According to official reports from the police, the 43-year-old priest had checked into the hotel on Friday night accompanied by a 32-year-old woman, who was also his colleague at their workplace in Ruai. Identified as “One Joseph Kariuki Wanjiku,” the clergyman was not only a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Nairobi but also a farmer residing in the Mangu area.
The unfortunate incident occurred around 8 am on Saturday when the woman alerted the hotel management about Fr. Kariuki experiencing dizziness and losing consciousness. In response, the hotel promptly sought medical assistance at a nearby hospital. Tragically, he was transported to Kenol hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, still inside his black Toyota Harrier vehicle, as detailed in the official report.
Police findings revealed that Fr. Kariuki’s lifeless body was discovered at the hotel, partially covered with a bedsheet. Disturbingly, white foam was observed emanating from his mouth and nose.
As the community grapples with the sudden loss, the deceased priest’s remains have been moved to Mater Hospital mortuary in Nairobi. The authorities await the completion of an autopsy and continue their investigation to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Fr. Joseph Kariuki Wanjiku’s tragic demise.
