Pastor Mistaken for Thief, Beaten and Car Burned During Bush Tryst
Police in Homa Bay County, Kenya, are investigating a chaotic incident in which a local pastor was assaulted and his car torched by residents who mistook him for a livestock thief.
The clergyman, affiliated with a Christian church in the area, was attacked in Jwelu village, Kakumu Sub-location, Ramula Location, Rachuonyo East Sub-county.
According to witnesses, the situation escalated when villagers spotted a suspicious vehicle parked in a nearby thicket. Due to a recent surge in livestock thefts—often involving small vehicles—locals feared another heist was underway.
Acting on this suspicion, a group of residents approached the car and found the pastor inside with a woman.
The residents confronted the pair and demanded an explanation. When the pastor attempted to flee, the mob restrained him.
While some members of the crowd began beating him, others set his vehicle ablaze. Residents claimed to have found several pairs of trousers in the car, which fueled further suspicion and outrage.
“We didn’t know what he was doing there, but he was inside the vehicle with a woman, and there were trousers too,” said a local.
The beating continued until some community members recognized the man and revealed his identity as a pastor. Realizing their mistake, the mob backed off.
The pastor, however, had already suffered serious head injuries and was later rushed to a hospital for medical attention. The woman fled the scene as the assault began.
Rachuonyo East Police Commander Laban Omol confirmed that an investigation is underway and said detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are handling the case.
“Our officers are engaging with local residents to determine exactly what happened,” Omol said. He urged the public to resist mob justice and report suspected crimes to the proper authorities, stressing that “taking the law into one’s hands can lead to the punishment of innocent people.”
Pastor Mistaken for Thief, Beaten and Car Burned During Bush Tryst
