20091212

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Robbers in Kenya stabbed to death an Irish Catholic priest who had worked as a missionary in the country for more than four decades, police said on Saturday.

Jeremiah Roche, a 68-year-old from west Limerick, was a member of the order of Kiltegan Fathers. He was killed early on Friday at his home on the outskirts of Kericho town, about 200 km (120 miles) west of the capital Nairobi.

Violent crime is a major problem in east Africa's biggest economy where armed robberies and car-jackings are common.

"We are treating the killing as normal thuggery since the gangsters managed to steal a laptop, his mobile telephone and an unknown amount of money," North West regional police commander Peterson Maelo told Reuters by telephone.

"We have launched a manhunt for the killers."

Roche had worked in Kenya since 1968. His body was found by parishioners after he failed to appear for 6 a.m. Mass.