Police shoot dead pastor found in robbery incident
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Pastor shot dead after he was found in the offensive act together with one of his congregants by the police officers
Pastor shot dead after he was found in the offensive act together with one of his congregants by the police officers.
Congregants at a church in Kitui and a section of residents have been left in disbelief after their esteemed preacher was found involved in criminal activity.
The pastor was found in the offensive act together with one of his congregants by the police officers.
According to a reports, the pastor was fatally shot by the police while his accomplice managed to flee with serious gunshot wounds.
The report further revealed that the deceased man of God was found in possession of a toy pistol, a sharp double-edged sword, and a counterfeit police radio.
The pastor was allegedly part of a gang that raided a wholesale shop belonging to Muli Munyoki last week and robbed him at gun point.
In the shocking incident the robbers used to operate two churches in the Matinyani area of Kitui West.
The slain pastor identified as Ezekiel Muinde Mwangangi was a preacher at the Heaven City Chapel based at Soweto area, while still overseeing a new branch at Kauma Market, some five kilometers away.
According to the shop owner, the robbers confronted him posing as police officers moment after he had closed claiming they were investigating a case of stolen goods which they suspected he was selling.
“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” explained Mr Munyoki.
They 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.
In the commotion, police officers from the nearby Kavisuni police post were alerted and they responded swiftly and rushed to the scene.
When police arrived at Mr Munyoki’s shop, they met the robbers walking out still holding the trader by his shirt collars.
The officers ordered them to surrender but instead, they brandished guns as they tried to escape using their motorcycle.
Police opened fire killing the pastor instantly while his accomplice escaped into the darkness having sustained gun wounds on his left hand.
Unknown to the officers and the crowd milled at the scene, the robbers including the one felled by bullets were actually preachers in Kitui town and its environs.
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Preliminary investigations established that on the fateful day, the two hired a motorcycle registration number KMDG 118K belonging to a friend at Katyethoka market, pretending they needed to transport their church music system to an open crusade within the municipality.
Instead, they proceed to commit robbery with violence at Kavisuni market, some 40 kilometers away.
According to Kitui County Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Eng Samuel Bett, police officers were not aware that the robbers were masquerading as pastors.
“The information about the robber being a pastor emerged later after his body had been taken to the mortuary,” the DCI boss said.
Contacted for comment, Kalimani location Chief Cyrus Kitwai Malombe confirmed that Pastor Ezekiel Muinde was part of the leadership of the Soweto church.
Mr Malombe upon receiving the information visited the Church and verified the slain robber was their pastor, an active leader in praise and worship sessions where he played and trained other worshippers how to play the piano.
“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,” the Chief told the Nation.
The Chief said last month, the church had a week-long daily afternoon crusade at Soweto Township, where the robber participated.
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