Signals from a stolen mobile phone led detectives to the arrest of two people suspected of murdering Reverend Julius Ndumia of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Tabuga Parish, in Lanet, Nakuru County.
The attackers broke into the church compound, killed the clergyman and inflicted serious injuries on a security guard before ransacking the official residence of the clergyman in a shocking incident on Monday last week.
After five days of investigation, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) have arrested the suspects in connection with the May 3, 2026, incident, and also recovered several items suspected to have been stolen during the attack.
Rev Julius Ndumia of Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Tabuga Church, Bahati, Nakuru County. The clergyman was found murdered in his house within the church compound on May 4, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
In a statement released by DCI, the two suspects were arrested after an extensive forensic and intelligence – led investigation from Homicide, Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau and the Operations Support Unit (OSU), in collaboration with officers from Nakuru North.
“A mobile phone tracking system was used to locate and apprehend the suspects. The phone was activated a few days after the break-in, attack and murder. The mobile phone and the suspects in custody are expected to provide crucial leads in the investigations into the murder,” A detective familiar with the case told Nation.
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
Using the data from the tracking system, the detective traced the movement of the device to various locations within Nakuru County before narrowing down to one suspect, leading to the arrest of the suspect.
“We have two people in our custody who are helping us with the investigation. They are neither church members nor church leaders. Intensive investigation is ongoing, and we will make other arrests,” said detectives.
The cleric’s body was found covered in a pool of blood, with deep cuts on the body, in the morning of the fateful day, by a teacher reporting to work at the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), in the church compound.
The clergyman who was found in his sitting room had his hands and legs tied. The watchman, Bernard Nyamwaka, was seriously assaulted and later hospitalised at the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital. He has since been discharged and put under witness protection.
It has been established that during the attack, the assailants broke into the church office and Reverend Ndumia’s residence, stealing cash, mobile phones and other unknown valuables.
The DCI said in the statement that detectives are conducting advanced forensics analysis, alongside a detailed review of critical evidence, believed to be linked to a wider criminal network behind the brutal attack.
“DCI strongly condemns this senseless and violent attack and assures the public that every effort is being made to arrest all individuals involved and ensure they are prosecuted. We commend the public and the entire PCEA fraternity for maintaining calm and cooperating with investigators,” read part of the statement.
A postmortem report revealed that the Reverend Ndumia died of suffocation, head injuries and excessive bleeding.
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
It stated that he sustained injuries on the back of the head and neck from being hit with an object, causing a fracture to the skull.
Dr Titus Ngulungu, who conducted the autopsy at the Umash Funeral Home in the presence of the family members and Director of the Homicide Division at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Martin Nyuguto, said that after being hit on the head, the brain was destabilised.
"As a result of my examination, I have formed the opinion that the cause of death was lack of oxygen due to pressure on the neck. There was trauma to the head and excessive loss of blood,” Dr Ngulungu told journalists at the funeral home in the presence of family members.
