INVESTIGATIONS into the death of an Irish Franciscan missionary must continue even though a Kenyan policeman has been being charged with his murder, church authorities said.
Colleagues of Brother Larry Timmons, from Delvin, Co Westmeath, urged the Kenyan government yesterday not to close its inquiries until all the details of his death last week have been established.
Constable Francis Kimanzi (35), is alleged to have murdered the 42-year old friar, at St Francis Secondary School, in Lare.
"This is not the end of the story," Father Moses Muraya, administrator of Nakuru diocese told The Irish Times yesterday.
"We need all the suspects to appear in court. We've submitted names from our inquiries to the authorities and we want them to act on this information."
Colleagues say Brother Larry was killed when policemen opened fire. One cleric claims the policemen were seen later drinking with known criminals in Lare, boasting they had "accomplished their mission".
Brother Larry, manager of a polytechnic school in Njoro, died instantly when he was hit by two bullets. A night watchman died later from wounds received in the incident.
It was initially reported that Brother Larry had been killed by robbers who broke into his house early last Wednesday. The police have since claimed it was a case of mistaken identity, and that Brother Larry was shot by a constable attempting to apprehend a gang of criminals at the school.
The Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, however, continues to underline what it calls "the mysterious circumstances" of the friar's death.
The killing took place a few days after Brother Larry had a disagreement with local government officials over instances of alleged bribery during the issuing of identity cards.
The attack in which the Irish friar died was the third violent incident at mission centres in Nakuru diocese.
The Kenyan Human Rights Commission has pointed out that the death of Brother Larry is just the latest in a long line of extra judicial killings by the Kenyan police force.