Alarm in Kirinyaga as thieves target churches, steal sacramental wine, bread

The latest incident occurred at ACK Ng’othi Church in Mutithi Ward, Mwea West Sub-county, where burglars stole musical instruments and other church items worth more than KSh 100,000.

According to Rev. Dennis Muriuki, the gang broke into the church through the main door on Saturday night and carted away all equipment, including musical instruments and two gas cylinders. Church furniture, however, was left untouched.

“Since the incident happened on Saturday night before Sunday service, our faithful had a difficult time hearing sermons because there were no instruments. One suspect was arrested yesterday while selling some of the stolen items at Makutano Trading Centre,” said Rev. Muriuki.

Police later arrested the suspect after he sold a church instrument valued at KSh 30,000 to a local businesswoman for KSh 1,500. Both the suspect and the woman were detained, and most of the stolen items have since been recovered — except for the two missing gas cylinders.

This is the third Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Mutithi Ward, Mwea West Sub-county, to be broken into in recent months. Just last month, thieves raided Kiamaciri ACK Church, stealing all church instruments and equipment.

Earlier in May, ACK St. Matthew’s Mutithi was also targeted. Thieves not only made away with church property but were reported to have consumed altar wine and eaten sacramental bread.

Concerned residents are now urging churches to hire energetic night watchmen and calling on police to intensify night patrols.

“We were shocked to learn that the suspect confessed to breaking into ACK Ng’othi Church alone. He is a Form Two school dropout who was arrested and jailed last year for a similar offence,” said one of the suspect’s relatives.