Police have arrested a foreign national for storming into a Mosque armed with a rifle and disrupting a prayer service in Taita-Taveta County on Wednesday morning.
Taveta Sub County Police Commander Lawrence Marwa confirmed the arrest and said the suspect would be taken to court once investigations are complete.
The police officer said the investor from South Africa entered into the Mata village Mosque where he complained that the faithful were disturbing him with their noise.
In the process, the suspect caused a disturbance, said Mr Marwa.
He said the house of the investor is 200 meters away from the Mosque.
“The suspect in our custody entered into the Mosque and demanded that worshipers reduce the sound of the communications system. We have arrested the suspect and will be arraigned soon. We will charge him for creating disturbance,” said the police boss.
The incident occurred while the faithful’s were holding the morning prayers (Subuh) at 4 am on Wednesday.
The terrified worshipers told The Standard that the suspect arrived in a vehicle and parked it outside before storming into the Mosque wielding a pistol.
They noted that they watched in shock and disbelief as the threatening suspect disrupted the prayer service.
“We could not believe our eyes when the suspect stormed into the Mosque brandishing a pistol without uttering any word. He (suspect) went straight to the public address equipment (PAE) system and disconnected it,” said Muhdin Musa, an elder of the Mosque.
“The suspect went straight to the PAE system and disconnected the wires using pliers. He (suspect) later stormed out to the amazement of many,” said the elder.
Narrating their ordeal Wednesday, the scared worshipers said the suspect complained that life was unbearable because the faithful’s were making too much noise for him.
“The mosque is a holly place where nobody can enter with a weapon. The suspect disrupted our prayer service and went away after disconnecting the PAE system fitted in the mosque,”,” said the shocked Musa.
He noted that area MCA Chanzu Khamadi helped to cool down tempers.
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