What started as a worship session at Joy Praise Ministry Church in the area of Heshima, Bahati, Nakuru County, on Friday night ended in a terrifying incident for the church members. It was 3: 00 AM on Saturday, September 23, 2023, when five armed individuals on two motorcycles stormed the church and ordered the praying congregation to lie down. Describing the incident, Stephen Mwangi, one of the church members present, said there were more than 30 members at the overnight prayer session.
On Friday night, at around 8: 00 PM, the congregation gathered at the church as usual for the overnight prayer session. However, six hours later, they were attacked by armed men while the pastor was delivering his sermon. Mwangi told Taifa Leo that the robbers entered the church through the main gate, which had been left open throughout the night. He said the thieves claimed to be on a different mission but were confronted by the landlord, leading to the robbery to get money for their escape.
” They said they needed money and food badly. I had Sh800 in my pocket, which they took. They didn’ t steal any church property. They took 25 packages of cakes that we were going to have with morning tea, ” he said. Lucy Njeri, another member, recounted that at the time of the invasion, she was sleeping in the church office after being overwhelmed by sleep before returning to prayers. She said she was startled when someone tapped her shoulder and told her to give them her phone before escorting her inside the church where everyone was lying face down.
Shortly after lying down, Njeri said the thieves ordered the lights to be turned off. She said they took her phone before returning to the office and taking Sh3, 000 that had been offered as an offering. ” After lying down, they lifted me again and ordered me to give them the M- Pesa pin for our pastor. I told them I didn’ t know it, that I was still new to the church. They told our pastor that they wouldn’ t take any equipment, even asking us to pray for them, ” Njeri narrated. Nancy Wangui, who has been a member of the church for a year now, says she is still in shock about what they went through, especially after her new phone was taken.
By Tuko