The body of a Catholic Priest who disappeared and later found murdered and buried in a shallow grave in Embu last month, was interred on Monday at Katoloni Pope Paul the VI Catholic Cemetery in Machakos.
Bishop Norman King’oo Wambua of Machakos Diocese assisted by Father Vincent Kivuva led a big congregation that had come to bid farewell to the late servant of God Father Michael Kyengo in a requiem mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral at the heart of Machakos town.
Thereafter, the remains of the 41 year old former Thatha Parish priest, in Yatta Sub County was transported to the burial place. Already three suspects are in custody in connection with the heinous crime.
At the Montezuma Monalisa Funeral home where the priest’s body has been lying, his colleague conducted special priestly rites before the body was moved to the cathedral.
Addressing the congregation which included priests, relatives, friends and other parishioners during the mass, Bishop Wambua said death occurs to all humans adding: “ The best thing we can do is to thank God for everything.”
The late King’oo was born on 15th October 1978 at Katangini village in Matungulu, Machakos, to the late David Maingi and Juliana Wayua. He schooled at Kwatombe Primary before joining Kinyui secondary school where he left in 1997 after successfully sitting for KCSE examination. He did a diploma course in clearing and forwarding from 1998-2001.
He started his priestly foundation in August 2001 when he joined the Christ the King Major Seminary in Nyeri. He had served in Emali and Mbuvo Parishes as well as Kaumoni all in Makueni County. Speakers during the mass described him as humble, God fearing and a focused person.
The priest disappeared from Thatha Parish in Machakos County on October 8, 2019 and his badly mutilated body was discovered a week later. The last born in his family, he is survived by brothers Albanus, Anthony, Paul and Peter. A postmortem on the body conducted at Montezuma Monelisa Funeral Home in Machakos County confirmed that he had died of stab wounds.
By Stephen Kimathi/Patrick Muendo
