Thieves raid Uasin Gishu Mosque, steal equipment worth over Sh150,000

Worshippers at Al Hudaa Mosque in Kamura village, Kuinet, Uasin Gishu County, are reeling in shock after thieves broke into the mosque and stole electronic equipment and other valuables worth more than Sh150,000.

The daring night raid targeted the mosque’s prayer hall, where the suspects carted away an amplifier, mixers, and two speakers used during prayers. The intruders also vandalized the ablution (wudhu) area, uprooting and stealing 20 water taps before fleeing with a bicycle belonging to a resident living near the mosque.

The incident was reported to Kuinet Police Post, with officers launching investigations to identify and arrest those behind the theft.

Speaking after the incident, the mosque’s Imam, Sheikh Abdi Mohammed, expressed disbelief and sorrow over the attack on the place of worship. “I woke up for morning prayers and was shocked to discover that all our electronics had been stolen by unknown people. They went away with our mixers, amplifiers, and speakers,” he said.

Community leaders condemned the incident and raised alarm over what they described as growing insecurity in the North Rift region.

Al Hudaa Foundation chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini urged security agencies to step up patrols and enhance protection for religious institutions and local residents. “We are counting our losses, and we do not know how we will recover the stolen items. What is even more worrying is that if someone had been inside the mosque during the break-in, they could have been harmed or even killed. That is why we are appealing for greater protection from the police,” Bini said.

Sheikh Bini, who also serves as the North Rift Chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), warned that increasing criminal activities in the region were causing fear among residents and worshippers alike and called on the government to enhance security measures.

Residents of Kamura village, most of them dairy farmers, said they sensed something was amiss when the mosque’s familiar early morning call to prayer failed to echo through the village public address system — a daily ritual that normally signals the start of their day and prompts them to wake up and milk their animals.

“We are shocked and saddened by this unfortunate incident. If thieves can steal from respected houses of God, what can they do if they break into our homes?” wondered resident Rosbella Mutai.

The attack marks the second reported mosque break-in in Uasin Gishu County within a month. In early April, thieves raided Masjid Shamsul Hudaa, popularly known as the Jua Kali Mosque in Turbo Constituency, stealing water pipes and other items.

Similar incidents have also been reported in Vihiga County, where Mudete Jamia Mosque recently lost amplifiers and prayer mats in what leaders fear could point to a growing trend of targeting religious institutions across the region.