Isiolo, Kenya, Jul 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Officials in Isiolo, Kenya have arrested two priests in connection with last week’s murder of Bishop Luigi Locati. The total number of arrests now climbs to eight as police try to find answers to a mystery which has shocked Kenya.
On July 14th, Bishop Locati, an Italian, was gunned down by an unidentified group while returning home from a parish event.
According to reports, one of the arrested priests, Father Peter Malley Guyo Wako was forced to resign from his post at Tumaini parish midway through last year after being accused of misappropriating funds. The second, Father Cyril Mukuchia, was serving at Merti parish which runs two secondary schools.
The schools were closed three weeks ago following clashes with church leaders and school management. Fr. Mukuchia was accused inciting parents and students and interfering with the running of the school.
Six other people are currently being held by Isiolo police for questioning.
Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki joined hundreds of mourners at a funeral Wednesday for Bishop Locati. There, he said that "The killing of Bishop Locati, who always stood up for peace, is a scar on our national conscience,” and added that, “We condemn such violence."
He added that Kenyans should emulate the bishop's teachings and sacrifice, and praised him for his work with the poor and less fortunate in society.
Other church leaders are also closely watching the investigation. Nairobi's Archbishop Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki said that, "I hope the law will take its course, if it is true that the priests were involved in the murder."