Sombre mood as slain Meru Priest laid to rest

Titus Murithi – Meru. Kenya

The funeral Mass was presided over by the Bishop of Meru Diocese, Salesius Mugambi and concelebrated by the Vicar-General, Fr. Kaimenyi, and other priests of Meru and beyond. Hundreds of the faithful from across the Meru County attended the Mass.

Tributes for a young priest full of zeal

The late Fr. Murangiri, 32, was ordained priest in December 2018 and posted to Limbine Parish in Tigania West where he served for only five months before he met his untimely death at Makutano Shopping Centre in Meru town at the hands of unknown assailants.

Those who spoke about Fr. Murangiri paid glowing tribute to him for his pastoral zeal during the short priestly ministry at Limbine Parish.

Bishop Mugambi thanked the congregation for turning up in large numbers to mourn and called upon Christians to be prepared in their Christian life for any eventuality.

Christians must be prepared for death at all times

“The death of Fr. Murangiri calls for every Christian to be prepared in their earthly lives as anything can happen any time,” said the Bishop. “Always remember God and thank Him every time, especially before sleeping and upon waking up in the morning. Always make peace with your neighbours every time and create peaceful coexistence with them,” the Bishops said.

 The Chairman of Meru Catholic Diocese priests, Fr. Elias Kinoti, said the late Fr. Murangiri’s death was shocking to the entire Catholic Church in Meru, adding that, as one of the first persons to arrive at the crime scene, the memory still brings him psychological torture.

A shocking death

“Up to this time, I am afraid to pick the telephone when it rings, especially if it is a fellow priest calling because the injuries I saw on Fr. Murangiri were so serious that nothing could have been done to save his life,” said Fr. Kinoti.

The Chairperson of Nkabune Parish, Mr Robert Mwongera, where Fr. Murangiri hailed from, said it was sad for them to have lost one of their sons.

“This unexplained death has robbed us of one of our sons,” said the Nkabune Parish Chair. “As a parish and as a village, we feel the weight of this loss and are in a state of shock. God alone knows why he has decided to take him away from us.”

Fr. Murangiri’s remains were buried at the historical Mujwa Catholic Cemetery, where Meru priests, religious men and women are buried.