Shock in Kirinyaga as Thieves Raid Church, Drink Altar Wine and Feast on Sacramental Bread.

In a deeply unsettling crime that has left a church congregation reeling, masked intruders broke into ACK St. Matthew’s Mutithi Church in Mwea-West on Monday, devoured sacramental bread, drank altar wine and made off with key equipment.

The assault took place under cover of darkness at the rural church in Kirinyaga County. Choir members arriving for practice discovered their sanctuary in disarray: broken windows, scattered liturgical items and a missing keyboard once used in Sunday worship.

What happened

According to church officials, the burglars forced entry through a rear window after overpowering the night guard, who witnesses claim was asleep at his post. The guard’s alleged negligence allowed the vandals to enter undetected and carry out their sacrilegious spree.

Once inside, the perpetrators not only stole material goods—but also treated the church’s sacred elements as though they were mere spoils: they consumed the consecrated bread and wine, shocking members who found traces of their actions the following morning.

Why this case alarms the community

• This is not just a burglary; the desecration of sacraments strikes directly at deeply held religious values and adds emotional trauma to the financial loss.
• The theft of the church keyboard undermines the musical ministry and Sunday service planning, leaving the congregation scrambling for alternatives.
• Located in a region already grappling with rural insecurity, the incident raises fears that places of worship are becoming targeted for both theft and symbolic violation.
• The guard’s alleged failure has prompted internal reviews and raised concerns about the reliability of church security arrangements in remote areas.

Response and next steps

Local police have launched a full investigation, classifying the case as both theft and desecration. They are gathering forensic evidence, reviewing CCTV footage in nearby areas and interviewing witnesses.

Church leadership has urged the community to remain vigilant and is working to replace the missing equipment swiftly. They also plan to engage private security ahead of Sunday services as a stop-gap measure.

Meanwhile, members of the public have been asked to provide any information that might lead to the recovery of the stolen keyboard or identify the culprits who dared to violate a place of worship.