By Nuru Salim.
Worshippers at Masjid Mina in Likoni were left stranded on wednesday morning after unidentified goons broke into the mosque and stole gate valves connected to the pipes supplying water from the tank.
The theft, which occurred at around 4 A.M., was discovered by the mosqueβs caretaker, Ayyub Mwazinga, who was in the middle of his prayers when he heard a strange cracking sound coming from the direction of the mosqueβs water tank.
Upon completing his prayers, Ayyub stepped outside only to find water gushing uncontrollably, the newly installed gate valves missing.
βThe moment I heard the cracking sound, I knew something was wrong,β Ayyub recounted. βBut I didnβt want to break my prayer. When I finally went to check, the entire place was flooded, and the valves I had just installed were gone. I had barely had them for a month before these criminals came and stole them.β
The stolen valves, which Ayyub had purchased for approximately Ksh. 12,000, were essential for regulating the mosqueβs water supply.
Their disappearance led to a major inconvenience, as worshippers who arrived for Fajr prayers found themselves unable to perform ablution (wudu), which is a mandatory purification ritual before prayer. As a result, many were forced to miss their early morning worship.
Ayyub explained that the thieves had accessed the mosque by accessing through the back perimeter wall, where the water tank was easily reachable. He blamed the notorious Likoni gangs for the act and repeated cases of vandalism in the area adding that the root cause of these incidents is drug abuse.
βThese young men are a menace,β Ayyub stated angrily. βThey will steal something worth thousands of shillings only to sell it for a few coins, just enough to buy drugs.” He added.
”It is shameful that some parents know what their children do but still choose to defend them. How can you protect a criminal knowing very well that they are terrorizing the community. These parents are part of the problem because they allow their children to continue down this destructive path instead of correcting them.β Ayyub stated.
Ayyub was particularly enraged that the mosque had been targeted, calling it a disgraceful act.
βA thief, a goon, must not enter a mosque to pray after committing such an act. That is the highest form of hypocrisy,β he lamented. He added that it’s a serious sin and whoever did that doesn’t even deserve to be prayed for and whether they are caught or not, Ayyub believes God will deal with them accordingly.
Despite his anger and frustration, Ayyub has yet to report the matter to the police, choosing instead to place his faith in God to repay him.
“God will repay them and punish them greatly for what they did. They might think they got away with it, but no one escapes Godβs judgment,β he said.
For now, Masjid Mina remains without water, leaving worshippers in distress. The missing gate valves, which control water flow, are crucial for the mosqueβs daily activities, including prayer preparations.
Ayyub, who is also in the race to vie for the youth leadership post in Likoni, has emphasized the need for tight security measures to address gang distress in Likoni.
