GARISSA, Kenya — A longstanding effort to replace a church with a mosque in Kenya’s northern town of Garissa culminated in an attack by 50 Muslim youth in September that left the worship building in ruins.
The gang stormed the building of Redeemed Gospel Church Sept. 14 and pelted the congregation with stones, sending many Christians fleeing while others became embroiled in fistfights. Ten Christians received hospital treatment for minor injuries and were released.
Church leaders said the Muslim mob also destroyed pews, damaged the church building’s walls of corrugated iron, smashed the glass-mounted pulpit and burned the church banner and its stand. Government security intelligence had reported that Muslims planned to destroy the church if it continued to operate within the residential area.
A Christian worker said Muslims have distributed leaflets threatening to destroy all churches in Garissa.
“It is quite unfair that the Redeemed Gospel Church has been displaced and is now praying under a tree in an open space with no amenities,” he said.
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