They tortured him for his PIN before the money disappeared
In the quiet of a Nakuru morning, a man of faith was killed inside the very compound where he served — not in haste, but with calculated cruelty. The murder of Reverend Julius Ndumia during a church raid on May 3 has drawn investigators into a web that reaches beyond two men now in custody, pointing toward a broader criminal network that may be exploiting the symbols of authority itself. As communities grieve and demand answers, the case asks an older question: what kind of society allows the sacred to become a hunting ground?
- A Presbyterian cleric was tortured for his mobile money PIN before being killed, turning a robbery into a deliberate act of lethal violence.
- CCTV footage captured suspects withdrawing money from the dead man's M-Pesa account — digital traces left behind by a gang that believed it had vanished.
- Two suspects are now held for 21 days while at least four others remain at large, keeping the community on edge and the investigation unfinished.
- The discovery that gang members wore police or military uniforms has alarmed authorities, raising fears of a criminal network with access to the tools of the state.
- Multiple elite police units have converged on the case, and dozens of suspects across Nakuru have been swept up as the county confronts a surge in organized crime.
On May 3, a gang forced its way into a Presbyterian Church compound in Nakuru, attacked the watchman, and killed Reverend Julius Ndumia. The assault was not impulsive — the attackers tortured the reverend to extract his mobile money PIN, then used his phone to drain his M-Pesa account before fleeing with cash, phones, and valuables. The watchman survived but was hospitalized with serious injuries.
When two suspects appeared in court on May 11, police secured 21 days of detention to complete forensic work, gather witness statements, and pursue remaining fugitives. CCTV footage had already captured the gang fleeing the scene and later withdrawing money at an M-Pesa shop — images now central to the investigation. Some stolen property has been recovered and traced back to the reverend's residence.
The case has mobilized the Homicide Unit, the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, and other specialized units under DCI coordination. But investigators believe the two arrests are only a beginning — at least four suspects remain free, and the attack is suspected to be part of a wider criminal network active across the county.
Most troubling is the detail that some gang members wore what appeared to be police or military jungle uniforms, suggesting either stolen gear or insider access — a level of sophistication that has alarmed authorities. The killing ignited public outrage, prompting police operations across Nakuru. The case returns to court on June 3, 2026, as investigators work to determine not only who killed the reverend, but whether his death is one crime or part of a larger pattern.
On the morning of May 3, a gang forced its way into a Presbyterian Church compound in Nakuru. They attacked the watchman, stormed the office and residence, and killed Reverend Julius Ndumia. What began as a robbery escalated into murder. Now, two men sit in custody while detectives hunt for at least four others they believe were part of the assault.
The reverend's killers did not simply take what they could find and leave. According to investigators, they tortured Ndumia to extract his mobile money PIN, then used his phone to withdraw cash from his M-Pesa account. They left with cash, phones, and other valuables. The watchman, caught in the same violence, was hospitalized with serious injuries. The attack was methodical enough to suggest planning, brutal enough to suggest desperation or cruelty—or both.
When the two suspects appeared in court on Monday, May 11, police asked for 21 days in custody to complete their work. Detectives needed time for forensic analysis, witness statements, and the pursuit of other suspects. The court granted the request. What emerged from that application was a picture of a crime that left traces everywhere: CCTV footage captured the gang fleeing the scene and later at an M-Pesa shop, withdrawing money using the dead man's account. Those images are now being reviewed by investigators. Some of the stolen property has already been recovered and linked back to the reverend's residence.
The investigation has drawn in multiple specialized units—the Homicide Unit, the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, the Operations Support Unit, and Nakuru North detectives. Mohamed Amin, the DCI boss, oversaw the coordination that led to these two arrests. But the work is far from finished. At least four more suspects remain at large, and police now suspect the attack was not the work of a lone crew but part of a wider criminal network operating in the county.
One detail has raised particular alarm: some members of the gang wore what appeared to be police or military jungle uniforms during the attack. This is not a small concern. It suggests either that criminals are stealing or counterfeiting security uniforms to gain access and credibility, or that someone with access to such uniforms is involved in the crime. Either way, it points to a sophistication and reach that extends beyond street-level theft.
The killing sparked outrage in Nakuru. Residents demanded swift justice. Police responded by mounting operations across the county and arresting dozens of suspects in connection with rising crime. The case will be mentioned again in court on June 3, 2026. By then, investigators hope to have moved closer to the full picture—to understand not just who killed the reverend, but why, and whether this attack is one incident or part of a pattern.
Notable Quotes
The arrests followed extensive forensic and intelligence-led operations involving multiple specialised units— DCI investigation summary
Some members of the gang were dressed in what appeared to be police or military jungle uniforms during the attack— Police investigators
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why would they torture him for a PIN when they could have just taken his phone and tried to guess it, or sold it?
Because time matters in a robbery. They're in the compound, exposed. They need cash fast. A PIN gets them into mobile money—real money, not just a device to fence. Torture is faster than guessing.
The uniforms concern you more than the robbery itself, doesn't it?
It does. A uniform is access. It's trust. If you're wearing police clothes, people let you into places. It suggests someone inside the system, or someone with connections to it.
Four more suspects still out there. Do you think they'll find them?
The CCTV helps. The M-Pesa withdrawals create a paper trail. But if this is a network, not just a gang, some of those four may be harder to locate. They may have scattered.
The watchman—what happens to him now?
He survives, but he carries the memory of violence. He was there, saw faces, heard voices. He's probably the most valuable witness they have. And the most vulnerable.
Do you think this was really about robbery, or was there something else?
The facts say robbery. But torture suggests anger, or a message. Maybe the reverend knew something, or refused something. Or maybe they were just cruel. The investigation will tell.