Police officers shot dead a pastor during a violent robbery at Kavisuni market in Kisasi district, Kitui county.
The slain pastor, identified as Ezekiel Muinde Mwangangi, was a preacher at Heaven City Chapel, based in the Soweto area, while overseeing a new branch at Kauma Market.
Muinde was allegedly part of a gang that raided a wholesale shop owned by Muli Munyoki last week and robbed him at gunpoint.
The pastor and a fellow churchman, who operated two churches in the Matinyani area of Kitui West, confronted Munyoki just after he had closed his shop, posing as police officers claiming to investigate a case of stolen goods.
“They presented themselves as police officers from Kitui Police Station tracking stolen goods and demanded to check my stock. Once inside the shop they drew guns and ordered me and the night guard to lie down,” Mr Munyoki said.
According to reports, the pastor and his gang allegedly robbed the trader of Sh5,000 in cash and forced him to surrender his mobile phone, as they ransacked the shop for valuables and more cash.
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In the commotion, police officers from the nearby Kavisuni police post were alerted and they responded swiftly and rushed to the scene.
Reports indicate that when the police arrived at Mr. Munyoki’s shop, they found the robbers walking out, still holding the trader by his shirt collars.
Despite police orders to surrender, they instead brandished guns and attempted to escape on their motorcycle.
A Pastor/Alleged Armed Robber Killed
Police then opened fire killing the pastor instantly, while his accomplice managed to escape into the darkness with gunshot wounds on his left hand.
The pastor was discovered armed with a toy gun, a sharp double-edged dagger, and a fake police radio.
Meanwhile, his accomplice, who is currently on the run, is suspected of being armed with a real gun.
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Police report further revealed that the pastor oversaw two churches and had misled a friend, claiming he was transporting church equipment while borrowing a motorbike.
According to Kitui County Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Samuel Bett, police officers were not aware that the robbers were also identified as pastors.
“The information that the robber was a pastor came later after his body was taken to the mortuary,” the DCI said.
Witnesses reported that the deceased held a senior position at the church and commanded respect in the area.
“The community around was shocked that a pastor they knew was not only involved in a robbery with violence but also killed in a shootout with police,” Kalimani location Chief Cyrus Kitwai Malombe said.
