Three churches in Kirinyaga County are assessing significant losses following a robbery incident where thieves made away with valuables exceeding KSh 1 million and desecrated sacred items.
The targeted religious institutions consist of St. Joseph Catholic Church, an Anglican church (ACK) located in Kiamangunyi, and Fountain of Life Church.
Church representatives reported that unidentified individuals breached the sanctuaries during the night of Saturday, May 2, entering through forcibly opened windows and moving through multiple rooms on the property.
“We are deeply distressed as intruders gained entry to our church and absconded with musical apparatus valued at more than Ksh 500,000,” remarked one congregant.
“A neighboring individual informed us about certain items on his property. Upon inspection, we confirmed these belongings belonged to our church, which clarified that a burglary had occurred,” explained another church member.
The stolen items comprised various musical equipment, specifically microphones, a keyboard, and a sound receiver.
In a disturbing development, the culprits also consumed the Holy Sacrament and departed with money found within the churches.
Religious authorities have reported the criminal activity, sparking concerns about deteriorating security conditions in the region.
Currently, they are advocating for immediate security patrols and enhanced monitoring systems to avert future occurrences.
This occurrence is not an isolated event nationally, as thieves have recently been targeting churches with minimal resistance during their operations.
Notable cases include an August 2025 incident where church equipment, particularly instruments, was stolen.
Another significant incident occurred in July 2019 when a burglar in Nyahururu wrote a heartfelt message to a Pefa church following an unsuccessful theft attempt.
The individual disclosed that a church member had informed him about money remaining in the church.