One of the razed churches in Munyu village, Nyeri county /ALICE WAITHERA
Clergy from Munyu village in Nyeri county have asked the government to investigate the motive behind a spate of arson targeting local churches.
Since February this year, two churches have burnt down under mysterious circumstances, sparking concerns that some unknown individuals are eyeing the land that the churches sit on.
Bishop Moses Riungu from the Gospel Outreach church said that about seven churches have pitched camp in a piece of public land after being given the go-ahead by the administration.
The churches settled on the land as early as 2006 and have not had any conflicts amongst themselves or with the community.
“We were brought here by the provincial administration back then and they showed each of the churches where to set up,” he said.
Riungu said it came as a shock when the Gospel Evangelistic church burnt down on February 7 this year and the matter was reported to the police, there after investigations started.
“It was very painful when we lost that church. We have been to many offices seeking to be given ownership documents for the land but are yet to succeed,” he added.
Rev Samuel Njuguna from the Gospel Evangelistic church said when their premises went up in flames, they speculated that it was either an accident or some naughty locals.
But when another church, Gospel Outreach, burnt down on July 17, it became clear that unknown people were targeting them.
“Since we reported the incident to the police after our church burnt down, we are yet to receive any report so we still have no idea who could have been behind it or their motive.”
Njuguna said they started rebuilding the church with the support of the community and the neighbouring churches. The other church burnt down before they could complete his church, throwing the community into confusion.
A church, he said, should be a respected place of worship and its uncommon for people to target it for crime.
“These are actions that can bring a curse to the community. We have been praying so that God gives us the grace to rebuild and also have the culprits uncovered,” he said.
Rev Samuel Njuguna, whose Gospel Evangelistic church was burnt down in February this year in Kieni, Nyeri/ALICE WAITHERA“If someone has the intent to take over this land, that’s greed because it is public land and it already has others occupying it. A church is not an individual’s. It serves the community,” he added.
Njuguna said their engagements with the national and county government have not brought to light any reports of individuals laying claim over the land.
Rev Esther Wachira from the neighbouring Christian Outreach Ministries Worldwide said when they settled on the land 19 years ago, elders were involved and gave their blessing.
“We have been working hard to rebuild the church burnt down earlier in the year. Now we have to start making plans to rebuild the other one. We’re wondering where the issue is because this far, we have not encountered any disputes.”
She explained that they have frequented the county government and Lands offices seeking help in getting land documents but that pledges to help them have not been fruitful.
Wachira said following the burning down of the first church, they visited the county surveyor and physical planner who indicated that public participation would be conducted before they are officially allocated the land.
“Before that process could even start, the other one went up in flames. The churches work together in harmony and can’t be targeting each other,” she said.
Archbishop Njoroge Munyori of the Foursquare Gospel Church reiterated calls for the government to investigate and establish the motive behind the arson.
He said the churches hope to know exactly who is targeting them as they make plans to start rebuilding the church burnt down recently.
“We will continue praying for the culprits to come out and seek forgiveness but we wonder if the first investigation has yielded nothing, what will become of the second one?” he posed.
Munyori also appealed to members of the community who may know those behind the arson to volunteer the information to the police saying the destruction is setting the community back.
Instant Analysis
The churches settled on the land from as early as 2006 and have not had any conflicts amongst themselves or with the community. Two churches have been torched since February this year with the clergy raising questions on who is behind it and their motives. The first church was razed down in February this year and efforts to rebuild it started with the support of the community but another one was burnt down before they could complete the first one, throwing the community into confusion.
