An evangelical church leader narrowly escaped death on Tuesday after angry residents stormed his church to protest the killing of a man by his followers in Kisumu County.

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Lucas Samo Mtishby of the Voice of the Potter’s Messengers International Ministries escaped being lynched by a mob at the church located at Usoma village in Kisumu West.

The angry residents who were baying for his blood claimed that his followers on Monday killed a mechanic identified as Vincent Abdallah.

The residents who were on a revenge mission surrounded the pastor before he was whisked away from the scene.

Rashid Omondi, a resident, said it was wrong for the church members to attack an innocent man. 

“How can the prophet incite his people to kill a man he has known for a very long time, and who has never stolen anything from anybody in this area?” asked Omondi as quoted by the Standard.

Rajab Harrun, also a resident, said that the deceased on Monday went to the church asking for payment after he repaired the vehicles in the church.

It is said the mechanic who has been demanding for his payment for a long time decided not to leave the church premises until he talked to the pastor.

“When he went to the church, he was told the leader was not in, and that he should return on Sunday. But he refused to leave because that had been the chorus any time he went there to get what he was owed,” said Harrun.

The 63-year-old mechanic was however allegedly attacked by a group of youth from the church when he decided to pick some church equipment as collateral.

The church youth then called the police claiming that Abdallah was trying to steal from the church.

The police arrived at the scene and Abdallah who was in critical condition was rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

County Police Commander Benson Maweu said an investigation into the death of the mechanic has been launched.