Young Christian Man Shot to Death Outside Church Building

A church in Mombasa, Kenya.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Daryona

A Christian man was shot and killed just outside a church gate in Mombasa on January 11th after he was mistakenly identified as the church's pastor. George Muriki, a 25-year-old university student, was at the gate of his church building when approached by unidentified gunmen. One of the attackers announced, "This is the church pastor." Witnesses say the assailants then shot the innocent young man three times in the back before fleeing on a motorbike. Two nearby policemen responded quickly and, thankfully, were able to prevent further attacks on the church.

The pastor was inside the church concluding the first service at the time of the shooting. He believes the murderers are the same people who have been following him for the past three months. After the shooting incident, he and his family moved into another home to avoid possible attack. Police report that the assailants could be members of an active Islamic terror cell located within the city, whose members have been blamed for past assaults.

As the family and friends of the slain victim now grieve their devastating loss, pray that they will find solace in the hope provided through Christ's atoning death and resurrection. May God somehow use this senseless attack for His glory and higher purposes, drawing many others -- especially young people -- to faith in Him. Also pray for the perpetrators of the shooting, asking the Lord to move mightily in their hearts so that they may repent of their sins and experience His forgiveness and salvation.

  • Country Information

    Kenya map & flagPopulation
    57,052,004 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Kikuyu (17.1), Luhya (14.3), Kalenjin (13.4), Luo (10.7), Kamba (9.8), Somali (5.8), Kisii (5.7), Mijikenda (5.2), Meru (4.2), Maasai (2.5), Turkana (2.1), other (9.2)

    Religions (%)
    Christian (85.5) (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4% other 11.1%), Muslim (10.9), Other (1.8), None (1.6)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Leader
    President William Ruto (2022)

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; judicial review in a new Supreme Court established pursuant to the new constitution

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Kenya

    Pray that Somali refugees within Kenya will be open to the gospel. Ask the Lord to encourage believers to be unified in heart and purpose as they serve converts from Islam. Pray that churches in the northeastern region will remain strong as they face Islamist attacks.

Kenya News

  • Five Church Buildings Burned
    Worship in Kenya
    Pray that Christians in Kenya will continue
    to faithfully proclaim the Gospel.

    Five church buildings were destroyed by fire in the town of Otamba, Kisii County, between January 21st and 26th, causing great concern among the residents of the community. While ten people were arrested shortly afterwards, the motive behind the attacks is unknown at this point.

  • Christians Ordered to Leave Area
    al-Shabaab - Photo: Voice of America www.voanews.com
    Photo: Voice of America

    On February 23rd, an audio recording was released by al-Shabaab demanding that all non-local Christians leave three provinces in northeastern Kenya. In the 25-minute clip, a spokesman for the Somalia-based Islamic terrorists urged any ethnic Somalis in the area to evict non-Muslims. The message claimed that many Muslims in the area were unemployed, so they should be given the jobs held by the non-Muslims.

  • Christian Teachers Killed
    Al-Shabaab militants
    Al-Shabaab rebels pose an ongoing threat to
    many living close to the Somali border.
    Photo: Voice of America

    Three Christian teachers were killed when suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the town of Kamuthe in eastern Kenya during the early morning of January 13th. The teachers of a residential school were asleep in their staff housing when their room was raided. According to a surviving teacher who fled out the window, the local Somali Muslim teachers were separated from the non-locals, whom they presumed were Christians. One of the attackers reportedly said, "We cannot allow infidels to teach our children," and then the three Christian men were shot to death.

  • Pastor Beaten Unconscious
    A street in Garissa - Photo: Wikimedia/Adam H T Geelle
    Garissa, Kenya
    Photo: Wikimedia/Adam H T Geelle (cc)

    An underground pastor in eastern Kenya, near the Somali border, was severely beaten on the night of March 8th. Muslim militants assaulted him with wooden clubs, leaving him unconscious and with a broken leg, bruises and other injuries.

    Pastor Abdul (surname withheld for security reasons) is a 30-year-old father of three. He serves as pastor to an underground church consisting of 30 former Muslims who, for safety, meet in small groups on varying days. He was on his way home after a prayer gathering on the outskirts of Garissa when several Somali Muslims attacked him. Most ethnic Somalis believe that all people of their nationality must adhere to Islam.