Kisumu's Voice of the Potter's Messengers International Ministries Pastor, Lucas Samo Mtishby, was lucky to escape with his life after an irate mob stormed his church on Tuesday.
The enraged residents were in pursuit of the preacher and four of his church faithful, over the murder of a resident mechanic, Vincent Abdallah, on Monday.
Reports by The Standard claimed that Abdallah was clobbered to death by members of the church, after he threatened to confiscate church equipment, in an attempt to recover an outstanding debt owed to him.
Attempts by the police to save the 63-year-old mechanic proved futile, as he was declared dead on arrival at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
This is what triggered the locals, who went on a rampage, burning one of the churches vehicles in the process.
“How can the prophet incite his people to kill a man he has known for a very long time, and who has never stolen anything from anybody in this area?” A resident, Rashid Omondi, posed.
The raging crowd then hid close to the church, waiting to strike down the pastor the moment he showed his face.
Samo, oblivious to the lurking danger, made his way to the church and tried to plead his innocence.
It was at this point that the angry residents pounced on him, pelting him with stones before armed police arrived at the scene and hurtled him away to safety.
On his part, the pastor maintained that he was not privy to the crime, adding that he would offer his full cooperation to the police until the perpetrators were apprehended.
“Two of the suspects are with the police. I will not be party to any criminal activity in my church. I want us to leave this matter to the police to do their professional work and bring the culprits to book,” Samo divulged.