Worshippers at Nyaguku Catholic Church in Nyamira County woke up to a heartbreaking Monday morning after discovering that their church had been broken into overnight and stripped of all its equipment.
According to reports, the break-in occurred shortly after Sunday night service. Thieves reportedly gained access to the church by prying open the metal bars on a window.
Images from the scene show the damaged window through which the culprits entered.
The intruders made away with all the church’s instruments and equipment. However, church furniture, including pews and the priest’s dais, was left untouched.
The full value of the stolen items has not yet been determined, and police have yet to identify or arrest any suspects.
The theft is the latest in a worrying trend of church burglaries across the country, where places of worship have increasingly become targets for criminals.
In a similar case in 2023, Deliverance Church in Elburgon was broken into by a gang of 10 burglars who stole equipment valued between sh350,000 and sh400,000.
That incident also occurred in the early morning hours between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., with thieves gaining access through a broken windowpane.
At the time, the church pastor explained that the security guard was patrolling another section of the compound when the robbers attempted to dismantle the church’s sound system.
Although the guard raised the alarm, the criminals managed to escape with a keyboard, mixer, and two amplifiers.
Fortunately, in both incidents, no injuries or casualties were reported.
Back in Nyamira, the local Catholic community has been left shocked and saddened by the theft.
Church leaders have appealed for increased vigilance and for anyone with information to come forward to aid police investigations.
As investigations continue, the incident underscores the growing need for enhanced security in places of worship, many of which house expensive audio-visual equipment critical for church services and community gatherings.
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