Kenyan Catholic Priest Dies In Nasty Road Crash In Malawi

• Ordained into the Catholic priesthood in 2016, Father Martin Kavisu rose the ranks to head an established parish outside Kenya
• The native of Kitui county met his tragic end on Friday, December 15, after being involved in a nasty road accident
• Until his death, Kavisu was the presiding priest of St Kizito Catholic Parish domiciled in Malawi's capital Lilongwe

Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Lilongwe - The faithful of St Kizito Catholic Parish in Malawi are mourning the demise of their resident priest, Father Martin Kavisu, who succumbed to severe injuries after being involved in a road crash.

The Kenyan cleric died at the scene of the accident in the Kamphata area on Friday, December 15.

His demise was relayed by the top brass of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, which governs eight Catholic dioceses, including Lilongwe, under which the St Kizito Parish runs.

"We regret to announce the death of Rev. Fr. Martin Kavisu of Saint Patrick's Missionaries (Kiltegan Fathers). He passed on today, December 15, 2023, in a fatal road accident at or around Kamphata Area in Lilongwe," read partly the Malawi bishops' communique.

Father Martin Kavisu's profile

The goner was ordained into the priesthood in 2016 and embarked on serving the church in various capacities and locations.

He began his service with the Redeemer Parish of Eldoret before leaving for Malawi.

Kavisu served as the parochial vicar of St. Augustine, Mthengowanthenga Parish (Dowa) between 2016 and 2018 before moving to St Kizito, Chigoneka Parish, still in the same capacity.

He was promoted to be the parish priest in 2022 until his death.

On the side, Kavisu served as a Vocations Director for the Missionaries of St. Patrick's Malawi and Zambia and the congregation bursar of the congregation in Malawi.

The funeral and burial Programme had not been outlined by the time of press, with the Episcopal Conference promising to announce it later.

Kenyan catholic bishop survives road accident

A few months back, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia of Kisumu was hospitalised at the Agha Khan Hospital after surviving an accident involving multiple vehicles.

The accident occurred along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway at the Anjelika roadblock in Vihiga County.

The clergyman is among several people who cheated death but are nursing injuries at hospitals in Vihiga, Kisumu and Kakamega counties.

The prelate reportedly suffered chest injuries and was rushed to St Elizabeth Mukumu Hospital in Kakamega before being referred to Agha Khan Hospital.

Kakamega Catholic Bishop Joseph Obanyi called for calm, adding that the clergyman was getting the best treatment.

"Yes, he was involved in the accident. He is in hospital for checkups. He has been transferred for a CT scan. All shall be well," reported the bishop.