A Kenyan man, who was among 7,000 petty offenders freed on Heroes’ Day on Thursday after being pardoned by President Uhuru Kenyatta, has been caught allegedly stealing in a church in the central region of Laikipia, the Daily Nation reports.
Lucas Ngugi Njoroge, 26, was caught by worshipers as he allegedly dipped his hand in the offertory basket and stuffed his pocket with the money, it adds.
He had taken $9 (£7) from the basket at the time he was caught, the report alleges.
Some of the church members confronted him and wanted to beat him up before he was rescued by a local chief who was attending the service.
Mr Njoroge has not yet commented on the allegation.
The chief said he had admitted that it was “wrong to steal from the church” and was in the process of returning the money when he was caught.
Mr Njoroge, who is currently being held in a local police station, will be taken to court as soon as investigations are complete, a local police boss told the paper.
