“He is fine, in his parish”: Catholic Bishop on Kenyan Priest after Abduction Ordeal

Nakuru, 25 August, 2023 / 9:00 PM

The Kenyan Catholic Priest who survived the ordeal of a nightlong abduction was discharged from hospital, and “he is fine”, his Bishop has said.

In an interview with ACI Africa, Bishop Cleophas Oseso Tuka of Nakuru Diocese in Kenya said that Fr. Michael Muriuki is back to Holy Cross Parish of the Kenyan Diocese.

“They kidnapped him and moved around with him in the night before leaving him in Nakuru town where he was found in the morning. He is fine in his parish in Nakuru,” Bishop Oseso narrated the events of August 23-24 night.

The Kenyan Bishop confirmed Kenya’s Daily Nation August 24 report that Fr. Muriuki was found with his hands and feet tied, and taken to hospital.

The Daily Nation report quotes the Nakuru East Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), George Momanyi, as saying, “The priest was found tied with ropes near Eveready roundabout. He has been rushed to the Nakuru Level Five Hospital for examination by doctors to ascertain if he is fine. However, he appears tired and devastated following the ordeal.”

The DCI official also spoke about Fr. Muriuki’s vehicle, which he said “was found abandoned at a petrol station near Ole Ken Hotel … in good condition but appeared to have been ransacked.”

“The vehicle was found was recovered around 1am on Thursday morning before he was found alive,” Mr. Momanyi has been quoted as saying, adding, “We have launched investigations into the incident to unravel circumstances surrounding the ordeal.”

Reports of Fr. Muriuki’s alleged hijacking at his parent’s house in Mau Narok in Njoro, Nakuru County, at around 8 p.m. on August 23 circulated that night.

In the August 25 interview with ACI Africa, Bishop Oseso who was consecrated on May 6 said the kidnappers might have been following “something about” Fr. Muriuki. The member of Clergy of Nakuru Diocese is yet to share details of his abduction.