Nyeri pastor lynched for allegedly sodomising 9-year-old boy

A quiet Nyeri community was shaken by a shocking incident in which a local pastor was lynched by an enraged mob following allegations of sodomizing a nine-year-old boy.
The horrifying episode unfolded rapidly, with law enforcement arriving only to find that mob justice had already taken its course. Preliminary police reports indicate that the ordeal began when the boy was sent on an errand to a nearby shop.
During his errand, the child reportedly encountered the pastor, who allegedly lured him to his residence, where the alleged assault took place. The boy was later released and returned home, where he bravely confided in his parents about the traumatic experience.
Fueled by anger and distress, the parents shared the revelation with neighbors instead of immediately seeking legal intervention. The enraged community, driven by outrage and a perceived failure of past justice efforts, mobilized swiftly to take matters into their own hands.
By the time officers from Nyeri Central Sub-County arrived, the pastor had already succumbed to the mob’s wrath. His body was discovered burned—a gruesome testament to the depth of fury within the community.
Speaking to the media, Nyeri Central Sub-County Police Commander Andrew Mbogo provided crucial context, confirming that the pastor had previously faced multiple accusations of similar offenses.
“This was the fourth time the pastor was accused of sodomy,” Mbogo stated, highlighting an alarming pattern that may have contributed to the mob’s extreme reaction.
Authorities are now tasked with unraveling the complexities of this tragic case—investigating both the allegations of defilement and the violent lynching, while working to identify those responsible.
The incident underscores the dangerous consequences of vigilantism, as well as the community’s deep frustration with the justice system when handling such egregious claims.
In Kenya, sodomy is criminalized under Sections 162 and 165 of the Penal Code, carrying a penalty of up to 14 years in prison. Additionally, under the Sexual Offences Act, defiling a child under the age of 11 is punishable by life imprisonment.