Police are investigating the killing of a 59-year-old Machakos-based pastor whose body was found dumped in a maize plantation.

A team of police officers based at Kawethei in Kangundo, Machakos county said the pastor belonging to AIC church had his eyes gouged out when they recovered the body.

The body of pastor Charles Kituku Muthusi was reportedly discovered early Tuesday morning dumped in a maize plantation, which is about 50 metres from his house. 

The motive of the killing remains unknown, police said.

The body had head injuries, and the eyes had been gouged out, witnesses and police said.

Officers from the Kawethei police post who arrived at the scene collected several pieces of rock that appeared to have been used to kill the preacher. 

Police also recovered a screwdriver near the scene believed to have been part of the murder weapon. His brother Peter Muthusi was shocked by the cold-blooded murder.

He revealed their other brother had met a similar fate in Nairobi a while back but the matter remains unsolved.

The body was moved to the Kangundo Level 4 Hospital pending investigations.

Police who visited the scene said they are yet to make an arrest.

Cases of murder have been on the rise in the past months amid calls to address the trend.