Mystery of pastor found dead in house day before his wedding

Police in Kiambu are still trying to unravel the mysterious death of a Kahawa Sukari Deliverance Church evangelist a day before his wedding.

Fred Gitau, 30, who also doubled up as an online tax driver met his untimely death on August 25. 

Gitau was set to wed the lover of his life Joyce Waithira at the same church on Saturday but was in an unfortunate turn of events found dead that Friday morning.

Preliminary police reports say on that fateful Friday morning, Gitau was dropped by the best couple at his home in Area 40 Street that joins the leafy suburb of Sukari and Githurai Kimbo at around 3 am estate to have some rest and later put the final touches on his big day.

After he failed to show up at a pre-wedding meeting, his close friends and family raised the alarm that his phone was unreachable.

One church member suggested they drive home and check him in his house. They drove back in a convoy.

His lifeless body was discovered by police who accessed his house with the help of a young boy who helped unlock the house from the inside. There was foam in his mouth. 

The house had been locked, and keys were thrown on his mother’s balcony. His car was also in the parking lot. Inside his Honda car were his new wedding shirts.

It is, however, not yet clear whether the bridegroom was murdered or died by suicide, as reports indicated that he was found dead without any suicide note or other evidence.

Gitau hailed from an affluent family and had been successful in his pursuits leading to questions over what might have transpired on the night in the usually peaceful neighbourhood.

The answers likely lie in the findings of an autopsy that was conducted on Monday at the Kenyatta University Funeral Home. Family and friends are hopeful that the autopsy will clear the mystery regarding his death.

Digital forensics regarding his last movements is what is also likely to answer the questions surrounding the death. The pressing question is: Who wanted Fred dead and why?

Kiambu police commander Perminus Muchangi said the matter has been handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for further probe.

“The DCI detectives have taken over the matter. We call for patience as we await the outcome of the investigations,” Muchangi said on Friday.

According to Mwangi Muthiora, a communication strategist and activist who first broke the news, the deceased had revealed someone was after his life.

Allegedly, he tasked his sister with investigating the unidentified person if any tragedy befell him. 

A close family member, who spoke to The Nairobian, also claimed that Gitau had earlier on Thursday evening texted his sister to tell her that his life was in danger, adding that if anything happened to him her sister should inform the police who was responsible.

The relative said the police were fully briefed about the message he sent to his sister. 

The relative further stated that Gitau was a prayer warrior at Deliverance Church and he never drank alcohol and was on the verge of becoming a pastor.

“He was a healthy man. He did not smoke and he exercised regularly. That is why we can’t accept his death just like that. I will never forget him. His loss is huge,” the relative said.

Gitua’s mother was shocked as she thought her son was in church only to find his lifeless body in the house.

Kenyans who learnt of his plight sympathised with his fiancée since the duo was counting down the hours to their wedding day.

They took to social media to condemn the act against the groom, who was described as a God-fearing and prayer warrior set to be elevated to a pastor in his church.