4 suspects shot dead in connection with murder of Catholic priest John Njoroge

Four suspects linked to the murder of a Catholic priest in Kinoo area, Kiambu County were Monday afternoon shot dead in a police ambush at Parklands Area in Nairobi.

The four armed men were gunned down by officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit near K1 Club, with one of them escaping on foot.

Gigiri OCPD Richard Muguai said police recovered two pistols from the suspects who were driving in a saloon car.

According to police, the vehicle the suspects were using was the one used when Father John Njoroge Muhia of Kinoo Parish was attacked and killed on December 10.

“We have information the same men were behind the killing of a priest in Kinoo two weeks ago. It was a sad end for them,” said Muguai

Officers from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit had reportedly been trailing the suspects before ambushing them as they tried to escape.

Father Muhia was attacked by a four man gang while on his way to bank Sunday church offerings. A four man gang on motorcycles obstructed him at a rough road, forced him to pull over, and demanded for a bag from his car.

One of the thugs then brandished a pistol and shot him on the chest through the windscreen of his vehicle.

Witnesses said the thugs then quickly opened the car and removed the bag and a mobile phone then fled on their motorcycles. The amount of money he was carrying still remains unknown.

A witness who was driving nearby at the time of the incident said he rushed the priest to Kikuyu Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, police say they have beefed up security in major estates ahead of the start of the New Year.