Worshippers at the Israel Assemblies of God Church in Kihunguro, Ruiru, Kiambu County are still reeling from the shock of an extrajudicial killing at the church’s premises on Sunday.
This after police gunned down a robbery suspect who was part of a four-man gang that had robbed an Uber taxi driver of his vehicle in Athi River.
Ruiru police boss James Ng’etich said one robber died on the spot while the other succumbed to gunshot wounds while he was being taken to the hospital.
One suspect, who had reportedly been shot three times, fled to the nearby Israel Assemblies of God Church and sought refuge.
Pastor Peter Maina said the service was halted when the suspect, who was bleeding profusely, entered the church.
“We heard gunshots while worshipping. A bleeding man came into the church. But in less than two minutes, police officers entered the church and asked the man to surrender,” Maina recalled as quoted by the Star.
“I pleaded with the cops not to shoot him since he had sought refuge in a church. But the police dragged him out and shot him.”
Terrified worshippers watched in shock and horror as the events unfolded.
Another man of the cloth, Pastor Bedan Ng’ang’a, said they cleaned the blood stains and prayed to “cleanse” the sanctuary.
According to the police boss, the taxi driver had been hired in Lang’ata on Saturday night to pick up a sick person in Athi River.
When they reached their destination, they were accosted by three armed men.
“They bundled the taxi driver in the back seat and drove around with him before dumping him at a quarry unhurt. We traced the vehicle in Kihunguro because it has a car track,” Ng’etich said.
He said officers laid an ambush, and when the thugs spotted them they drew a pistol and fired at the cops, leading to an exchange of fire.
Kihunguro residents praised the police for fighting the rampant crime in the area. They said the thugs had turned the area into their hideout.
