20091224

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan police said on Thursday they had arrested two more people suspected of being behind the killing of an Irish Catholic priest who had worked as a missionary in the country for more than four decades.

A week ago the authorities detained three suspects in the murder of Jeremiah Roche, a 68-year-old from west Limerick who was stabbed to death this month at his home near Kericho town, some 200 km (120 miles) west of Nairobi.

The burglars made off with a laptop, a mobile phone and cash. Violent crime is a major problem in east Africa's biggest economy, and armed robberies are common.

"We have managed to arrest two other suspects during our investigations and we are now holding five of them in custody ... On Monday they are likely to be arraigned in court", North West regional police boss Peterson Maelo told Reuters by phone.

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