Catholic Bishop of Eldoret, Dominic Kimengich, has issued a strong condemnation of the escalating insecurity in Kerio Valley, urging the government to take urgent and decisive action. Speaking during a requiem mass for slain Catholic priest Father Allois Bett at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Eldoret, Bishop Kimengich said the time for empty promises is over and demanded concrete government intervention.
“Time for empty talk is over. We demand action. We must stop the many extrajudicial killings in the country to prevent further loss of innocent lives,” Bishop Kimengich said.
Father Bett was brutally killed two weeks ago by armed bandits as he returned from a community mass (Jumuiya) near his church, St Mulumba in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet County. His death has sparked national outrage and renewed fears in Kerio Valley, a region long troubled by deadly cattle rustling, bandit attacks, and lawlessness.
“They have killed the children, the women, and now the priest. They have crossed all the red lines and must now be stopped,” Bishop Kimengich declared, criticizing the government’s apparent failure to protect residents despite having the means to do so.
The requiem mass, attended by prominent leaders including Senators Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Samson Cherargei (Nandi), and Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea, highlighted the magnitude of the tragedy and the need for urgent security reforms.
Father Bett’s body was moved from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue to the cathedral for the mass and later transported to Holy Family Ol Lessos Parish in Nandi County for a night vigil. His final funeral mass will be held at St Michael’s Terige High School, followed by burial at the Ol Lessos Parish Cemetery.
Security operations are currently underway in Kerio Valley as authorities attempt to track down the perpetrators. Bishop Kimengich reiterated the church’s call for justice, urging that those responsible be brought to account without delay.
As the region mourns the loss of a dedicated servant of God, calls for government action continue to grow louder, with residents and leaders alike demanding an end to the violence that has plagued Kerio Valley for far too long.
