Thousands mourn U.S. missionary slain in Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) -- Thousands of Kenyans joined a service of prayer on Sunday for a U.S. missionary found murdered a month ago, the government-owned Kenya Broadcasting Service reported.

Headed by Roman Catholic clergy and singing hymns, the mourners walked in procession for eight kilometers (five miles) from Naivasha, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Nairobi, to the isolated spot where Father John Kaiser's body was found.

Several members of parliament were among the mourners.

Father Kaiser, a member of the Mill Hill missionary order, had been a vocal critic of the Kenyan government, which he blamed for inter-tribal clashes two years ago.

He had told friends in the weeks leading up to his murder that he feared for his life.

The radio said both the Kenya police and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation had launched investigations into the slaying.

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