SDA church elder killed during prayer service over suspected love triangle

Worshippers at Ebenezer SDA church in Homa Bay were stunned Saturday after a church elder was stabbed to death by a fellow elder while delivering a summon in a suspected love triangle.

Francis Opiyo, 35, had been leading a mini-sermon ahead of the main sermon when the incident occurred.

According to Francis’ elder brother Joseph Opiyo, Francis preached well and was in the process of concluding his session. 

However, when Francis was handing over to his fellow elder, the elder removed a knife that he had hidden in the Bible. He stabbed Francis’ left side of the chest, making him collapse on the spot.

“Francis was handing over the religious session to his colleague. He neither knew that the colleague had hidden a knife in a Bible nor his intention. His colleague stabbed him to death,” Joseph said.

Joseph said the assailant accused Francis of being in a sexual relationship with his wife.

“The assailant’s wife was not in the church but he accused my brother of being her lover. He had been suspecting them although nobody had clear evidence of the suspected relationship,” Joseph added.

Upon committing the act, the assailant ran away and surrendered to the area Assistant Chief.

An irate mob went and torched the assailant’s home to express their anger.

Suba South Sub-county Police Commander Caxton Ndunda said they had apprehended the suspect.

“The suspect surrendered to the assistant Chief and we are detaining him at Magunga Police Station. We are interrogating him so that he can be charged,” Ndunda said.

The police boss urged residents to seek the right modalities of solving social problems instead of resorting to murder.

“The assailant has told my officers that the deceased man was in a sexual relationship with his wife. But this should not have led to death. He ought to have sought the intervention of clan elders or the church leadership to solve the issue instead of the violence,” Ndunda said.

The body was moved to St Camillus Hospital Morturay in Sori Town, Migori County.