Residents of Lanet in Nakuru county on Monday morning woke up to the rude shock of the brutal murder of a cleric at his official residence within a church compound.
Reverend Julius Ndumia’s lifeless body, covered in a pool of blood, with deep cuts on the body, was found in his house at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Tabuga parish.
A security guard at the church was also found lying unconscious with deep cuts, a short distance from the body of the clergyman.
Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Tabuga Church in Bahati, Nakuru County where Rev Julius Ndumia was found murdered in his house on May 4, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The legs and hands of the victims, who were the only one at the compound at the time, had been tied by the unknown assailants, who ensured they were immobile as they carried out the crime.
The security guard was rushed to the Nakuru Teaching and Referral hospital where he is undergoing treatment, according to the police.
During the incident, the clergyman’s house and offices at the church were broken into, although it remains unclear the items that were stolen by the attackers.
A teacher, who arrived at the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) within the church compound, raised an alarm attracting residents who called in the police.
Nakuru County Police commander Samuel Boit, confirmed the incident and said investigations had commenced to track down the killers and establish their motive.
“Reverend Ndumia’s body was found in a pool of blood in the living room, with deep cut wounds on the back of the neck, suggesting he might have been attacked using an axe. The security guard also had wounds on his body” Mr Boit said.
Mr Boit said the assailants are suspected to have gained access to the church compound around 3am through the main entrance after cornering the security guard who led them to the house where the pastor was alone at the time of incident.
The assailants tied the victims and attacked them before ransacking the house. The deceased's mobile phone was however found at the scene and taken by the police as exhibit.
Clergymen from the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Tabuga Church in Bahati, Nakuru County are overwhelmed by emotions following the brutal murder of Rev Julius Ndumia in his house within the church’s compound on May 4, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“It very unfortunate that we have lost a church leader in such a manner. I want to assure the public, church leadership and congregants that investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances that lead to his death,” Mr Boit told journalists at the scene.
Mr Boit said that the security guard is in stable condition and that security had been beefed up in the ward where he is being treated as he holds crucial evidence of the attack and the clergyman's subsequent murder.
“It seems the attackers were looking for something in particular. I would like to urge the members of the public, church elders and congregants to volunteer any information that may lead to arrest of the suspects,” he said.
Former Bahati Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri said CCTV footage at the church may hold crucial evidence which investigators should use to unravel the identity of the assailants and their motive.
Mr Ngunjiri said that Rev Ndumia was known for championing peace and that he never allowed politicians to use the pulpit to spread politics of hatred, division or tribalism.
“Rev Ndumia was my long-term friend. I was having my breakfast when I received a distressing phone call that he had been murdered. It is sad that thugs are now targeting men of the cloth,” Mr Ngunjiri said.
Residents of Tabuga in Lanet, Bahati, Nakuru County at the scene where Tabuga PCEA Church clergyman Rev Julius Ndumia was found murdered on May 4, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The former MP called on the police to beef up security in the Lanet area, saying that cases of armed robberies, burglaries and stabbings have been on the rise in the area in recent days.
The former lawmaker urged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to equip police stations with police vehicles which will aid in patrols and timely response whenever an alarm is raised.
“There is an urgent need for the government to crack down on criminals operating in this area,” he said.
