Organised gang desecrates Kirinyaga churches in coordinated heists

The latest assault occurred Sunday night at St Philip AIPCEA Church in Riagacingi, where intruders consumed sacramental wine, devoured holy communion bread, and made off with valuables whose worth remains unquantified.

The theft signals a disturbing escalation in the criminal pattern now sweeping the region.

Hours earlier, thieves struck Gatuto ACK Church in Kanyeki-ini Ward, Kirinyaga Central, executing a calculated heist of sophisticated sound equipment valued at over Ksh500,000.

The raid crippled the congregation's Sunday worship, as congregants struggled to follow proceedings without the church's audio system.

The stolen equipment included speakers, a bass speaker, mixer amplifier, receivers, microphones, a keyboard, connecting cables, and a crossover unit essential to the church's sound infrastructure.

Investigators have determined that thieves gained entry by forcing open the church gate, then accessing the building through a compromised window and an inner door.

The break-in was discovered by a church worker who noticed signs of tampering and realised the intruders had bypassed padlocks by entering through the window rather than attempting forced entry at sealed points.

Margaret Muthoni, the church's chair lady, expressed shock at the incident.

"We woke to a shock when we discovered our church had been broken into, with all sound equipment and the holy communion bread and wine taken away," she said.

Daniel Murimi, the church's vice chairman, called for swift police action. "We are in shock after receiving this news. We are calling upon police to investigate this matter urgently," he said.