police in KItui county have been reported to have killed a herdsman after he shot him dead in an attempted robbery at the Kavisuni market, NTV Kenya has reported.
The pastor, whose name was not immediately known at the scene of the shooting, was allegedly part of a gang that invaded a general store last week and committed a robbery at gunpoint.
In a surprising case of gospel preachers during the day and robbers at night, the robbers were running two churches in Matinyani Kitui West, the NTV Kenya report further explained.
His accomplice in the evening robbery, a fellow worshiper escaped with gunshot wounds after the rogue preachers faced a hail of police bullets.
The pastor was found with a toy pistol, a double-edged dagger and a fake police radio communication device while his aide who is on the run is believed to have a real gun.
According to the shop owner, the robbers confronted him posing as police officers shortly after closing claiming they were investigating a case of stolen goods they suspected he was selling.
They allegedly robbed the businessman of Sh5,000 in cash and forced him to hand over his mobile phone, while looting the shop for valuables and more cash.
In the commotion, police officers from the nearby Kavisuni police station were informed and they quickly responded and rushed to the scene.
When the police arrived at the store, they met the robbers coming out holding the businessman by the collar of his shirt.
The officers ordered them to surrender but instead, they opened fire as they tried to escape on their motorbike.
The police opened fire and killed the pastor on the spot while his accomplice escaped in the dark with gunshot wounds on his left hand.
Unbeknownst to the officers and the crowd gathered at the scene, the robbers, including the one who was shot down, were preachers in the town of Kitui and its suburbs.
