Catholic priest accused of using goons to demolish brother’s house

Police in Tharaka-Nithi County are investigating an incident where a Catholic priest is accused of hiring goons to attack his brother.

The goons also demolished the complainant’s house on Wednesday evening in Mikui Village, Maara Sub-County, following family land dispute.

Chief Edward Gitonga told journalists that Mr Lawrence Gitonga, his wife Emis Nkatha and their young daughter spent the night in the cold after an armed gang led by his brother, John Muriungi, beat them up and threw them out before demolishing the house.

“The goons who were hired at Mitheru market were armed with pangas and other crude weapons,” said Mr Gitonga.

He said the attackers chased away the villagers who had responded to the screams, threatening to cut them into pieces until.

LAND

Officers from Chogoria Police Station later arrived and calmed the situation.

Mr Gitonga said the priest serving at Mbaranga Parish in Igembe North has been demanding that he surrenders his parcel of land that he inherited from their father.

“He has been threatening to kill me if I don’t surrender the land and move to live in another place,” said Mr Gitonga.

Police were forced to disperse angry residents who threatened to lynch the priest and torch his car and house.

The residents have called on police to take the action against the priest, vowing not not to accept him back to the village.

Efforts to speak to the priest were not successful as he did not pick calls from journalists.