A sombre mood engulfed the Tabuga area in Nakuru North Sub-County after a church robbery turned deadly, leaving a cleric murdered and a watchman seriously injured.
Police say the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at PCEA Tabu
The crime was first discovered by an ECDE teacher from Glory Nursery PCEA Tabuga, who arrived at the church at around 6:00 a.m.
She became suspicious after finding the main gate locked from the inside and noticing that the church office doors were wide open.
She alerted church elders, who gained access to the compound and discovered that the office had been ransacked. The church watchman was also missing at the time.
A further check at the residence of the parish minister, Julius Ndumia Ngare, 50, revealed a grim scene.
The cleric had been killed, with a deep cut wound at the back of his head, police said.
The church watchman was found seriously injured and rushed to Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition. Police later confirmed he had stabilized and recorded his statement.
According to preliminary investigations, the attackers ransacked the reverend’s house and demanded Sunday offerings.
They reportedly escaped with an unknown amount of cash, mobile phones belonging to both victims, and other unspecified items packed in a bag.
Senior police officers, including the Nakuru North Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer and scenes of crime personnel, visited and processed the scene.
The body of the deceased was moved to Umash Funeral Home awaiting post-mortem examination.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects as investigations into the robbery with violence and murder continue.
In a condolence message, Moderator Rt. Rev. Thegu Mutahi described the incident as a painful loss to the church, saying the news of the minister’s death had deeply shaken the faithful.
“Good afternoon and praise God. This is a very sad day for our church, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, because this morning we woke up to very sad news of the death of our minister of the Nakuru East Presbytery. The minister of Tabuga Parish, Rev. Julius Ngari Ndumia, was assaulted by unknown criminals last night at around 10/11 pm. Killed in cold blood,” Mutahi said.
“We got the information early today, but we had to let the next of kin be made aware, his wife, Esther Wangui, and his parents on both sides. We are very sad because death is painful and it is even more painful when it comes through criminality. I have talked to the area MP, Mheshimiwa Irene, who is our member, and she has talked to the IG, and they are following up on the matter. Other than the minister, the watchman was also wounded. It was in the church manse in Tabuga. It is very unfortunate that such a heinous act can happen.”
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