A 36-year-old woman has confessed in a Nairobi court to attempting to set fire to a city church, claiming she was sent by God to deliver a “heavenly message.”
Jane Wanjiru Boro pleaded guilty to the charge of arson, explaining that she had been confused after receiving a divine signal that the Jesus Teaching Ministry Church, located on Haile Selassie Avenue, was about to be consumed by fire.
Appearing before Milimani Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Wanjiru admitted to the offense but insisted that she was merely carrying out what she believed was a mission from God.
“I received a signal that the church was about to be consumed by fire, so I went there. When I arrived, I got confused and forgot to ask God to bring down the fire,” Wanjiru told the court.
“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…”
The prosecution informed the court that the incident took place on October 19, 2023, around 9:30 a.m., when Wanjiru entered the church premises and was stopped by security guards.
She initially told the guards that she was waiting for someone to pick her up, but her behavior soon raised suspicions.
According to the court, Wanjiru was later seen carrying a plastic bottle filled with paraffin, which she sprinkled on the church floor.
She then took out a matchbox and attempted to ignite the fire.
Fortunately, the alert security guards quickly intervened and extinguished the flames before they could spread.
Wanjiru was arrested at the scene and later booked at Kamukunji Police Station.
In her mitigation, Wanjiru expressed remorse and asked for forgiveness, assuring the court that she would not repeat such an offense.
“I regret my actions, and I ask for forgiveness. I promise never to commit such an act again,” she told the court.
Magistrate Onsarigo remanded Wanjiru in custody until December 18, 2024, when a presentence report will be presented before sentencing.
