Inside suspected syndicate accused of stealing church electronics and selling them as used goods

A suspected syndicate operating across Kenya and even beyond its borders has come under the spotlight after reports linked a second-hand electronics dealer to the theft of valuable equipment from churches.

The businessman is said to specialise in installing LED screens in places of worship both locally and abroad. Intelligence sources claim he runs a quiet network that relies on a group of young men known as “spanner boys.” These helpers allegedly steal electronic gadgets from unsuspecting owners and later deliver the items to the dealer, who then sells them as second-hand goods.

CCTV cameras installed at the businessman’s home and at several churches have captured the movement of equipment worth millions of shillings.

The footage shows deliveries taking place under cover of routine work, making the activity hard to notice at first glance. Churches that trusted the dealer to upgrade their sound and visual systems may have unknowingly become part of a larger scheme that turns sacred spaces into sources of stolen property.

The alleged operation raises serious questions about how such a network can thrive for so long without detection. Many congregations invest heavily in modern technology to improve worship experiences, only to discover later that some of the very people trusted with installation may be connected to theft.

The loss is not only financial; it also damages the sense of safety and trust that churches try to build within their communities.

KTN Crime and Investigative journalist Lenox Sengre has been following the story closely. His upcoming report promises takes viewers deep inside the network, examining how the syndicate is organised and how the stolen items move from church compounds to the dealer’s premises.

The investigation to aired this Sunday at 7 pm and again at 9 pm on KTN under the hashtags #PulpitBandits and #WiziKwaMadhabahu.

For many Kenyans, the idea that places of worship could be targeted in this way feels particularly troubling. Churches are meant to be safe havens, yet the alleged activities suggest that criminals may exploit the open and trusting nature of these institutions.