Police have arrested an unidentified man who was reportedly armed when he arrived at a Catholic church in Wote, Makueni County, and asked to see Bishop Simon Peter.
According to an account of the incident, the man arrived at the church premises this afternoon and claimed he wanted to meet the bishop. His presence reportedly raised concern among people at the church, who confronted him and attempted to establish why he was there.
The situation escalated when the man allegedly fled and locked himself inside the church toilets.
Police were called to the scene and reportedly broke open the door before arresting him.
The incident has raised concern because of the reported presence of a weapon at a religious institution, although the exact nature of the weapon and whether the man intended to harm anyone have not been established.
Police are expected to investigate why the man went to the church, whether he had any connection to Bishop Simon Peter and what prompted him to lock himself inside the toilets.
Importantly, his arrest does not establish that he intended to commit a crime. His motives remain unclear, and investigators will need to establish the circumstances surrounding his presence at the church.
The incident also highlights the security challenges faced by places of worship, particularly when an unidentified person arrives carrying what is reported to be a weapon.
The key question now is what the man wanted at the church and why he reportedly sought to meet the bishop while armed.