Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett, a Catholic priest gunned down last week in Elgeyo Marakwet, will be buried on Friday, 30 May, the church has announced. The exact location will be shared after further consultations with his family.
The 45-year-old priest was ambushed in Kabartile Village while returning from a pastoral visit. According to police, unknown attackers opened fire and fled the scene. Six suspects have since been arrested.
The killing has sent shockwaves across the Rift Valley and sparked renewed calls for peace and security in the troubled Kerio Valley region.
During a packed requiem mass at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Eldoret, Bishop Dominic Kimengich of the Eldoret Catholic Diocese paid tribute to Father Bett, describing him as a man of peace and service.
“We have lost a servant of God in the most painful way,” the bishop told mourners. “But his death must not be in vain. Perhaps this is the moment that wakes us all up to what is happening in our country.”
He condemned the increasing violence and lawlessness that have taken hold in parts of the North Rift. “Some people have sunk so low that life no longer matters to them,” he said. “The government must rise to the occasion. Allowing criminals to roam free only encourages more bloodshed.”
Local leaders echoed the bishop’s concerns. Nandi Governor Stephen Sang said insecurity in Kerio Valley has been ignored for too long.
“This area has been left behind,” Sang said. “It’s high time the national government acted decisively. We can’t normalise killings.”
The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed that six men are in custody in connection with the murder. However, police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga told reporters there is no evidence so far linking the crime to cattle rustling or the wider banditry crisis that has affected the region.
Father Bett served at St Matthias Mulumba Parish in Tot. Friends and parishioners remember him as a calm and generous man who served with quiet dedication.
“He was always there when you needed him,” said Martha Kiplagat, a member of the church council. “He brought hope to many.”
His sudden death has left a community in mourning and a country grappling with the cost of unchecked violence. While investigations continue, many are now hoping that this tragedy will prompt real change.
As Bishop Kimengich put it: “Let his blood cry out for justice—not just for him, but for all who have been silenced.”
