A man who was released from prison on Friday after President Uhuru Kenyatta pardoned him during Mashujaa Day celebrations was caught stealing church offering on Sunday in Laikipia County.
Mr Lucas Ngugi Njoroge is said to have stolen Sh900 from the Ol Jabet African Independent Pentecostal Church in Laikipia West – barely 48 hours after he left jail.
According to Ms Agnes Wambui, one of the witnesses at the church, they became suspicious after Mr Ngugi prolonged his stay at the church offertory basket.
It’s during that time that he dipped his hand into the church basket but instead of contributing, he pulled out some Sh900.
The service was disrupted for a few minutes when a section of the congregation noticed that he was trying to stuff the money in his pocket.
Just as the members of the church were ready to pounce on him, an Assistant Chief – Mr Charles Ngunjiri – who was also in attendance, whisked him away.
“He confessed to stealing the money,” Ngunjiri confirmed.
Confirming the incident, Nyahururu OCPD Ezekiel Chepkwony disclosed that Mr Ngugi would be taken to court once investigations are completed.
“It is just amazing that someone can go into a church and be that disrespectful in a place of worship. He will be arraigned in court once we are through with investigations,” Chepkwony told a local daily.
Ngugi was among 7,000 petty offenders that were pardoned by the Head of State last week on Thursday.
In an off-the-cuff remark, the President joked that the release would allow the Judiciary to send more of those who commit serious corruption related crimes to prison.
