Seven hurt as youths attack worshippers in Elburgon church
ESA Mwembeni Pentecostal Church in in Elburgon, Nakuru County where armed youths attacked worshippers on September 22, 2019, leaving several of them with injuries. PHOTO | JOHN NJOROGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The faithful scampered for safety when the group of more than 20 youths arrived and disrupted the service.
- Pastor Ndung'u and the six others who were attacked sustained head injuries.
- The incident came barely a week after another faithful was attacked in the same church.
Seven worshipers, including a child and a pastor, are nursing serious injuries following an attack by youths who stormed and disrupted a church service in Kasarani Estate in Elburgon, Nakuru County on Sunday.
The faithful who had attended ESA Mwembeni Pentecostal Church, scampered for safety when the group of more than 20 youths arrived and disrupted the service.
According to Pastor Jerand Ndung'u, the youths arrived at around 10am in the morning carrying batons and accessed the church through a side door and immediately descended on one woman with kicks and blows.
CLOBBERED WORSHIPERS
"When the woman fell down, the youths who were hanging around the compound entered inside the church and came up to where I was as they clobbered worshippers in the church," said Pastor Ndung'u.
Pastor Ndung'u and the six others who were attacked sustained head injuries. They were treated at Elburgon Sub-County Hospital and discharged.
Speaking to the Nation by phone, the pastor said he received six stitches on the cuts he sustained.
According to the clinical officer in charge of the hospital, six, including the one-and-a-half-year-old child, had soft tissue injuries.
The other victim, Susan Wairimu, complained of chest pains.
Ms Wairimu said she became unconscious after she fell down following the beatings by the young men who paralysed the church service.
WRANGLES
The church has been experiencing leadership wrangles for some time now.
The incident came barely a week after another faithful was attacked in the same church.
Mr James Gitau was attacked by an unknown people while on his way to the church.
Two church factions have been fighting over its leadership and land ownership.
Bishop George Michael Mburu, who is the founder of the church, has been claiming that he is the presiding bishop with legal documents.
Speaking separately with the Nation, Bishop Mburu accused the other faction of causing conflicts in the church.
"The window panes were shattered and fence demolished. The church has incurred losses following the damage," said Bishop Mburu, adding that it was a big shame for Christians to fight.
No one has been arrested in connection to the chaos despite the case being reported at the Elburgon Police Station.
