A small Anglican church in Kirinyaga has become the unlikely scene of a late-night break-in that has left residents stunned and church leaders shaken.
Thieves broke into ACK St. Matthew’s Church in Mutithi and, in an act many described as deeply disrespectful, drank altar wine, ate sacramental bread, and stole key church property — including a keyboard used by the choir.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Eliud Githaka, the church’s vice chairman. “The choir came in to practise and found the place in a mess. The keyboard was gone, and the sacraments had been tampered with.”
The incident, believed to have happened overnight Sunday into Monday, has raised questions about the reliability of the church’s night security. Locals allege the guard on duty may have been asleep during the break-in.
“The guard didn’t notice anything until morning,” said one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We believe he was asleep the whole time. It’s very worrying.”
Police visited the scene on Monday evening and have opened an investigation. Officers have not yet made any arrests, but they say they are pursuing leads.
“We are treating this as a serious crime,” said a police spokesperson in Kirinyaga. “This was not just theft — it was a violation of a sacred place. We are working to identify those responsible.”
The church, which serves dozens of families in the area, now plans to review its security arrangements.
“We’re considering hiring our own security staff,” said another church official. “We can’t risk this happening again.”
Locals, meanwhile, are calling for swift action. Some say the incident reflects growing insecurity in the region. Others see it as a rare and shocking act of disrespect.
“This is not just about what was stolen,” said Githaka. “It’s about people no longer fearing God.”
As the investigation continues, the church community is trying to recover — both from the loss and the emotional blow.
“We forgive whoever did this,” one parishioner said quietly. “But we also pray they are caught — and that they come to understand what they’ve done.”
