Police in Kirinyaga County have launched urgent investigations into a brazen series of church break-ins, with three worship centres ransacked within two days in incidents marked by both theft and alleged desecration of sacred items.
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.
48 HOURS, 3 CHURCHES?
According to police, the spree began over the weekend and targeted churches in different parts of the county. In each case, intruders forced entry at night, stole electronics, sound equipment, and offerings, and left behind signs of deliberate vandalism.
But it was the incident at St Philip AIPCEA that shocked congregants most. Witnesses said the suspects did not just steal. They opened the sacramental wine and drank it. They ate the communion bread meant for Sunday service.
“It’s not just theft. It’s sacrilege,” said *Mzee Joseph Ndegwa*, an elder at the church. “When people start touching holy things, you know desperation has turned into something darker. We come here to pray for peace, and now we don’t even have peace in God’s house.”
Mary Wanjiku, a choir member who arrived early for Monday morning practice, said she was left trembling. “We pray here. We bury here. We get married here,” she said, pointing at the broken tabernacle. “If criminals can come and eat God’s food, what does that say about us? I asked myself, is nowhere sacred anymore?”
Another resident, *Peter Kariuki* from Riagacingi village, said the community is afraid. “This is the third church in two days. We are tired of waking up to bad news. We work hard, we tithe, and then someone comes at night and drinks the wine we set aside for communion. It hurts,” he said.
Police have not confirmed whether the same gang carried out all three break-ins, but the timing and methods suggest coordination.
Mwea East Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal confirmed that detectives have opened an OB and are pursuing leads. “We have launched urgent investigations into the three incidents. We are analyzing footprints, statements, and possible suspects,” Okal said.
“I urge members of the public to volunteer any information to help us arrest these people. At the same time, let us remain calm and not take the law into our own hands.”
He added that the desecration aspect is being treated seriously. “Consuming sacramental items goes beyond theft. It is disrespectful and we want to know the motive behind it,” he noted.
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION WEIGHS IN
Riagacingi Location Chief Henry Mwangi said he had convened a baraza with village elders after the incident. “This is very shameful. Churches are supposed to be safe places,” the chief said. “We are doing night patrols with nyumba kumi officials. I ask parents to watch their children. Some of these acts are being done by people we know in the village. If you see something, say something.”
He appealed to residents to install security lights and grills. “Criminals are becoming bold because some churches are not secure. Let us protect what belongs to God,” he added.
THE BIGGER CONCERN
For congregants, the raids raise a painful question that has been echoing across Kirinyaga lately: if even the house of God is not safe, where is?
“It feels like nothing is sacred anymore,” said Jane Nyambura, a church treasurer. “First it was theft in homes, now it’s in church. What will they do next?”
David Gitonga, a boda boda rider who worships at a nearby church, said he now fears for his own place of worship. “We are all watching each other now. We sleep with one eye open. This is not the Kirinyaga we know,” he said.
WHAT NEXT
For now, St Philip AIPCEA will hold service without wine and without the instruments that were taken. The congregation has started a harambee to replace what was lost.
Police say they expect to make arrests in the coming days and have asked churches across the county to report any suspicious persons.
As Mzee Ndegwa put it while locking the damaged church door: “In Kirinyaga, something is always being taken. This time, they took from God’s house. We are praying that God exposes them.”
