ELDORET, Kenya – Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett, the Catholic priest gunned down in a shocking attack in Elgeyo Marakwet last week, will be laid to rest on Friday, May 30.
The burial location will be announced by the Catholic Church in consultation with his family.
During a solemn requiem mass held Tuesday at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Eldoret, Bishop Dominic Kimengich of the Eldoret Catholic Diocese condemned the priest’s killing, describing it as a brutal act that underscores the erosion of respect for life and law in the country.
“Father Bett’s death shall not be in vain,” said Bishop Kimengich. “His sacrifice might be the turning point that brings lasting peace to Kerio Valley. Some people have gone so low that they no longer respect life or the rule of law.”
Father Bett, who served at St. Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish, was ambushed and fatally shot by unknown gunmen in Kabartile Village, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
His death sent shockwaves across the religious and local community, already burdened by years of insecurity.
The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed that six suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing.
However, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the motive does not appear to be linked to cattle rustling or the recurring banditry that has long afflicted the North Rift region.
“The matter is under investigation, and we are treating it as a targeted killing rather than a random act of banditry,” Nyaga said.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, who also attended the mass, echoed the bishop’s concerns, blaming years of government neglect for the violence plaguing Kerio Valley.
“For too long, these communities have been left to fend for themselves,” Sang said. “The government must rise to the occasion and restore order. Leaving perpetrators scot-free amounts to promoting impunity.”
The killing of Father Bett comes amid heightened scrutiny of security operations in Kenya’s volatile regions, where religious leaders and local officials are increasingly calling for long-term solutions to endemic violence.
