Monday, 5 July 2010
The Anchor June 2010
Strange Gun Drama!
Police seek to know who shot priest
By MARTIN MASAIPOLICE is packaging details they have gathered over a bizarre shooting incident in the residence of Makueni Parish head Father John Makewa.
In the incident, It is reported that suspected gangsters raided the residence forcing Father Makewa to open fire in an effort to fight back at about 4.15 am on March 20,2010.
When gunshots rung out that night, a catholic Priest, Father Fidelis Nzuki was left injured and bleeding profusely. He sustained a shot on his arm and another between his legs.
Reports made to the Police in Wote, Makueni District that morning by Father Makewa indicated that the alleged gangsters fired at the house, injuring the visiting Father Nzuki and forcing Father Makewa to return fire. During the night of attack, Father Makewa had hosted four other priests in his house, among them Father Nzuki. The Priests allege that they were woken up by gunfire with Father Makewa shouting that the house was under attack.
They could not hear the attackers other than gunshots that made them believe that they were under attack. It could not have been that the fire was coming from the priest’s gun. While fully alert, it is alleged that Father Makewa called Father Nzuki and handed to him a gun and asked him to head towards the door of the sitting room and open it stealthily so that he(Makewa) could have a full view of the gangsters.
It is claimed that Father Makewa took a position along the corridor holding rifle, ostensibly to give cover to Father Nzuki as he opened the door. The other priests remained holed up in their rooms.
As Nzuki opened the door, a gunshot tore through his arm and he is reported to have yelled that he had been shot. As he wailed, a voice shouted “you can Die!” as another shot hit him, ripping through the flesh close to his genitals.
All this while, the other priests were shaking in fear of the unknown. It is alleged that Father Makewa eventually opened the door, and after a while, workers at the parish and the priests organised to take the injured priest to the hospital.
It was then assumed that Father Nzuki was hit by the alleged gangsters. Makewa narrated to The Anchor the story of the alleged raid and did not lock out the possibility that one of his shots may have ricocheted and hit Father Nzuki.
The matter turned nasty when police arrived at the home of Father Makewa and begun interviewing neighbours and the inhabitants of the house. On examining the scene of crime, they noticed that several windows had their glasses shattered and scattered on the outer side- meaning that shooting could only have taken place from inside the house.
Police sources say they combed the house and neighborhood for evidence that there were intruders and were convinced that the alleged attack may only have been a theory they found difficult to believe.
Police have interviewed close to 20 witnesses and the theory of attack has been narrowing down with each new statement.
Police then took away the two weapons- a rifle and a gun, all owned by Father Makewa- and begun an investigation that seems informed by both the fear of God, the risk of framing up a man of God or even tearing into turf wars that have seen priests position themselves to bid for the Bishop’s seat in the yet to be created Makueni Diocese of the Catholic Church.
Worse still, it may even be that the investigation is crippled by usual official red tape or outright inefficiency. Now a good three months after the attack, police are still lazing around with the shooting dominating conversation in many meetings in the parish.
Father Nzuki was eventually taken to Mater Hospital to begin a new life. He stayed at the ICU for two weeks and is currently recovering at a Catholic home in Mlolongo. Nzuki, now pursuing a Masters Degree in Business and Administration in Nairobi, interestingly was introduced to priesthood by Father Makewa and in fact comes from the same village in Kangundo.
The relationship between the pair has been such that they were seemingly inseparable. He was a constant visitor of Makewa and according to his own account; there has never been a known dis-agreement.
Nzuki’s account of the shooting tells how he reluctantly took hold of a gun thrust to him by his senior and instructed to crawl towards the door and open it. A police source says there is no doubt in Nzuki’s mind who was his assailant.
His statement is replete with exchanges that police are seeking to knit together and develop a motive for the shooting. Makewa was one of his regular visitors in hospital until the visits were abruptly stopped after the ailing priest was reported to have had nightmares and sleepless nights arising from the tragedy of the night of attack.
Shortly after, The Bishop of Machakos Catholic Diocese, the Most Rev Martin Kivuva instructed Father Makewa to step aside as head of the Parish to allow police carry out independent investigations. He was to report back to the bishop on May 22, 2010 for further deployment or instructions and that has not been possible due to the pace of the probe.
Makewa is an experienced priest who has come along way, clashing with the administration over various issues, the latest being a showdown with a former Makueni DC over alleged theft and sale of famine relief food.
Investigators are said to be approaching the matter carefully as they know that past clashes with the priest may be seen to have a hand in their probe.
Makewa was seen, along Father Kyule, and Father Mondiu as possible successors of the late Bishop Urbanus Kioko as Bishop of Machakos but the appointment of Bishop Kivuva, then based at Kwale sprung a surprise that may have send discomfort to some of the priests- key among them father Makewa who has bestrode the catholic scene in Machakos like a colossus. Sources in some sections of the church believe that the investigation may be swayed by a purported fight for who will be the new Bishop of the Makueni Diocese, a belief that may actually be far fetched.
Bishop Kivuva told The Anchor that it became necessary for Father Makewa to step aside given the nature of allegations and direction the investigation was taking. He said the church wanted the matter handled in the best manner possible so that all fears are put to rest “That is all there is to this matter in spite of the many stories that are doing rounds over it”
A new priest, Father Mutunga has since taken over from Father Makewa who remains away- mostly at his home in Kangundo where he is alleged to be under the escort of two armed Administration Police Officers.
They were attached to him after alleged incidents in Kangundo that seemed to have put his life in danger arising from family links with the injured priest.
The Anchor has been unable to reach any of the priests in Makewa’s house on the fateful night. However Police recorded statements from them, the injured priest and Father Makewa himself. Indeed they have taken two statements from Father Makewa.
Police sources say that finger prints and ballistic experts examined the guns recovered from the priest and confirmed that the bullet that hit Father Nzuki were fired from the Rifle Father Makewa held at the time of attack.
Now the biggest headache for the police is to append a motive for the shooting. Those privy to the probe say Police are investigating Father Makewa’s gun history- from the time he was licensed to carry weapons, his use of ammunition, incidents involving his use of the gun and storage in an attempt to decipher a motive for the shooting.
The Anchor also established that Police stopped probing the gangster theory in the attack and has been wondering why anyone would invent such a story in a case where a priest is shot with a gun being held by another who has been a mentor, friend and more of an elder brother.
