Investigations into the gruesome murder of Catholic priest Father Michael Kyengo took a dramatic twist after the second suspect confessed that he killed the cleric in order to join a cult and finally grow his fortunes.

Kavivya Mwangangi was arrested during a dawn raid in Wang’uru, Kirinyaga county, by detectives from the Special Crime Prevention Unit and upon grilling gave a detailed account of what transpired before and during the brutal killing of the priest.

In a grim confession, reminiscent to that of the 2010 self-confessed serial killer Philip Onyancha, Mwangangi told the detectives that he cut the priest’s throat after he was told that was a prerequisite to join the cult and would help him attain a more powerful rank in the cult.

He provided the details of the Illuminati Official Clun, a South African-based cult, and its website which required one to sacrifice a relative or close friend.

DCI boss George Kinoti said on Friday that the first suspect Michael Muthini Mutunga joined the cult on September 1, 2018, after trying to join six times earlier. 

The deceased priest, the DCI said, was a long-time friend of both Mwangangi and Mutunga.

Mwangangi was also found with a list of 86 names of people, who Kinoti said were presumed to be members of the cult and would be sought and interrogated.

Investigations revealed that Mwangangi and Mutunga, after kidnapping the priest tied both his legs and hands before the former slit his throat.

“We managed to locate the shop where they bought the sack and rope. We have also established that they bought a spade which they were to use in burying the priest after killing him,” a senior detective said.

Mwangangi’s arrest came just hours before a Nairobi court heard that the burial of the priest would be delayed pending the release of DNA results by the Government Chemist. This is after relatives of the priest were unable to identify him during a postmortem exercise conducted at a Machakos mortuary.

“After the recovery of the decomposed body suspected to be of Father Kyengo, it was taken to Machakos where a postmortem was conducted and the late priest’s kin was unable to identify the body,” a Nairobi court heard on Thursday.

Investigating officer in the case Julio Mutembei from the Special Crime Prevention Unit-DCI said they would not be releasing the body for the burial pending the DNA results.

“It would be premature to release the body of the priest before the DNA report analysis is out,” said the investigating officer.

On Thursday, Mutunga was arraigned before Milimani Principal Magistrate Hellen Onkwani with the State seeking 14 more days to continue detaining him to complete investigations into the matter. 

The court was informed that the investigating agencies are yet to establish the scene of the crime and other scenes which are within several counties for purposes of recovering more exhibits. 

“That a suspect is a person of interest in the disappearance and suspected murder of Father Kyengo. We urge the court to give us another 14 days since the information that the suspect has availed on us has not been acted upon,” said the officer.

Mutembei said during Mutunga’s arrest, they confiscated his phone and subjected it to analysis which has identified several other suspects who are still at large.

The court was further informed that the investigating agencies have visited various counties including Embu, Kilifi, Machakos, Makueni and Mombasa where some recoveries have been done.

The police said they also want the suspect to undergo a mental assessment before forwarding the file to the office of the DPP and his arraignment in court for murder charges.

Mutunga opposed the application to have him detained for another two weeks. 

“I have been in custody for eight days since I was arrested. I seek the court to reduce the 14 days being sought by the police,” said the suspect.

Police on October 17 had been granted seven days by Magistrate Peter Ooko. However, magistrate Onkwani allowed the police application to continue holding Muthini for another10 days at Kilimani Police Station.

“I grant 10 days and the case to be mentioned on November 6 for further directions,” ordered Onkwani.