US priest murdered in Kenya

Father Kaiser spoke openly against injustice in Kenya

An American Roman Catholic priest known for his outspoken criticism of the Kenyan Government has been shot dead.

Kenyan police said the body of Father Anthony Kaiser, who had worked in the country for the past 36 years, was discovered near the town of Naivasha, some 80km from the capital, Nairobi.

"The body had a bullet wound on the head. A shotgun was found at the scene near the body," police spokesman Peter Kimanthi said.

A US embassy spokesman, Tom Hart, said the Kenyan police had promised a full investigation.

"The embassy's citizen's services unit is verifying the facts concerning his death. As of now we are unable to confirm the circumstances of his death," Mr Hart said.

"If there is any indication of foul play, we will vigorously pursue a full investigation and follow-up to ensure justice is done," he said.

Fellow priests told the Italian-based Missionary Services News Agency that Father Kaiser was at his order's house in Nairobi on Wednesday night. They said he was "visibly upset and nervous and saying he feared for his life".

They described Father Kaiser's death as murder, citing his well-known criticism of the government.

Deportation

The priest had over the years been a crusader against injustice.

Nearly 2,000 people were killed in the Rift Valley clashes

He once accused cabinet ministers of fomenting ethnic violence in the country's Rift Valley province in 1992 and 1993.

Father Kaiser, 67, was threatened with deportation in November after the immigration department refused to issue him a work permit.

Later the government agreed to renew the work permit, after the Roman Catholic Church and civil rights groups accused the government of political persecution.

The late Father Kaiser worked in the densely-populated diocese of Kisii and Ngong.