Knife-wielding attacker injures three inside Kisii church

A knife-wielding assailant was on Saturday arrested in a church in Kisii and in the process stabbed a police officer and two congregants.

A police report from Kisii central police station indicates that the male assailant, who has since been identified, raised eyebrows after he entered the church located within Kisii township and started behaving suspiciously as the service was ongoing.

Unbeknownst to him, two police officers had been deployed to offer security at the church.

“His attempt to access the pulpit was swiftly intercepted by the said officers,” the police report said.

It added that among the worshippers was Kisii Central subounty Police Commander (SCPC) Isaac Kimwele.

“During the struggle to remove him  outside, the assailant stabbed  the SCPC on the left arm sustaining a slight injury. He also managed to stab two more members of the public who rushed in to offer assistance to the police officers,” police said.

The assailant was subdued and taken into custody.

Police said one of the injured members of the public sustained a slight stab wound on the right hand side of the head, while the other male adult sustained a cut on the left arm.

“All the injured together with the SCPC were rushed to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital where they were treated and discharged in fair condition,” police said.

Officers from the scene of crimes department processed the scene and recovered the knife used during the attack.

Police said the motive of the attack was yet to be established although DCI officers from Kisii Central are investigating the matter.