A woman who attempted to set fire to popular prophet Peter Manyuru’s JTM church has confessed that she indeed committed the offense but told court she was sent by God.
Jane Wanjiru Boro told court that she tried to burn down Jesus Teaching Ministry Church saying she was send by God to convey message to the church’s administration about ‘heavenly’ fire.
Wanjiru pleaded guilty to the offence of arson and I was alleged that on October 19 at JTM church along Haile Sallesie road, she attempted to burn down the church.
She confessed to the offense but told Court that she got confused after entering the Church armed with the ‘heavenly’ message only for the devil to attack her, showering confusion all over her making her to forget the message.
“I received the signal that the Church was about to be consumed by fire then I proceeded to the church. When I arrived at the church I got confused and forgot to ask god to bring down the fire. However, instead of praying for the fire to come down I got confused and started the fire myself. Your honor someone can get confused sometimes…” Wanjiru said.
According to prosecution, Wanjiru entered the church at 9.30 am and was stopped at the reception by security guards and on interrogation she explained she was waiting for someone to pick her.
While at the reception, she removed what looked like paraffin which was in a plastic soda bottle and sprinkled on the floor.
She went ahead to remove a match box and lit fire on the church in an attempt to burn it however security guards acted swiftly and put off the fire before it could spread.
She agreed to the above facts read out in court and Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo and detained her until December 18, 2024 to await for a presentence report to be tabled in Court before she is sentenced.
According to the penal code, the maximum
Sentence for the offense of arson in life imprisonment.
