Confusion Reigns Over Death of Fr. Alois Cheruiyot

By Our Reporter

Confusion reigns over suspected killing of a Catholic priest in Elgeyo Marakwet County with the church now calling in the government to go for the real killers of Fr Alois Bett Cheruiyot.

The Catholic church said the six people arrested by the police last on Friday evening are not the real killers of the priest.

Addressing the press, the clergy led by Eldoret Auxillary Bishop John Lelei claimed that those who killed Fr Cheruiyot are known people and the government should go for them as soon as possible.

"It is said that insecurity and killings continue to be witnessed in Kerio Valley yet the government has not made made any efforts to contain it," said Bishop Lelei.

Late Fr. Alois Cheruiyot in his previous preaching mission

According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, the government has intensified the crackdown on bandits who have in recent days resorted to killing innocent civilians. 

The CS who spoke when he condoled with the family of the late Fr Cheruiyot at their home in Cheplasgei Village, Kilibwoni Division in Nandi County vowed to hunt down all the assailants and pacify the area.

Murkomen reiterated the government's commitment to restore calm in the region stressing that no one will be spared.

“Our security forces have intensified the crackdown against bandits in Kerio Valley and arrests have been made. As a result of these efforts and frustrated by the inability to carry out livestock raids, the bandits have resorted to terrorist activities where they kill innocent civilians inside the community away from cattle rustling,” said Murkomen.

He said the strategy was to instil fear and force the security officers to relent in their security operations.

“The killing of Fr Cheruiyot must be understood from the context of his peace efforts and his evangelism against banditry. We will not surrender; instead, our security men and women will double their efforts," said Murkomen.

He said the recent killings of Bonface Ongote, Simon Njaga and now Fr Cheruiyot is a stark reminder that bandits have resorted to acts of terrorism away from livestock theft and are doing everything to ensure that peace is not restored.

He called for the communities in Kerio Valley and the wider region to fully cooperate with the security forces as they weed out criminals.

“We are going to be relentless in our efforts. Though we mourn those we lost, including Fr Bett, we are confident that we shall overcome. It's darkest before dawn,” said Murkomen.

The government has, in the last two years, intensified operations against banditry "The larger Kerio Valley region is pacified, save for a few areas.

The relative success is because of the collective efforts of our security officers, supportive members of the public, and community leaders, including from the religious community, like Fr Alloys," said Murkomen.

The CS expressed his deepest condolences to Fr Cheruiyot's parents Eunice and Joseph Binder, his siblings, friends, the Church, the faithful of St.

Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish and the entire Diocese of Eldoret for the the loss.

“Fr Cheruiyot was a deeply committed and energetic servant of God who went beyond the call of pastoral duty to foster peace and harmony in the community he faithfully served and loved very much,” the CS stated.

He said his killing is a big blow and comes at a time when the larger Kerio Valley is pacified following intensified security operations against banditry in the past two years.

Murkomen was accompanied by the Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang, Emgwen MP Josses Lelmengit, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, area MCA Geoffrey Chemalan, Nandi Central Sub-County Commissioner Jillet Jillo among other leaders.

According to police reports, Fr Cheruiyot was from celebrating mass deep in the village and few kilometres from Liter area in Marakwet East.

Elgeyo Marakwet County Governor Wisley Rotich yesterday condemned the killing and called on security agencies to bring to book the perpetrators.

"I urge the authorities to spare no resource until they eliminate all these criminals. I'm very sorry my friend had to be felled in this manner while serving God in my county," said Rotich.

Late Fr. Alois Cheruiyot preaching the gospel under a tree in volatile rural part of Kerio Kerio valley. 

Main data

▪︎KNUT, KUPPET Officials Direct Closure of all Schools in Kerio Valley Following Fatal Shooting of Catholic Priest.

▪︎73 schools, comprising 54 primary and 19 secondary institutions in Kerio Valley, have been ordered to close immediately by officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and its North Rift branch due to security concerns. 

▪︎While expressing concern over the recent shooting of Catholic priest Alloyce Cheruiyot Bett, the officials warned that the incident shows the security threats facing the region. 

▪︎The Knut officials call on the government to withdraw all illegal firearms from the general public. They insist that schools will not reopen until decisive action is taken to restore safety.

▪︎They also instructed all non-local teachers in the area to relocate immediately for their safety. 

▪︎According to the teachers, criminal gangs in the region are specifically targeting outsiders, heightening concerns over the teachers’ well-being.

▪︎They cited incidents in which three police officers who were not from the region were recently killed, before the unfortunate shooting of the Catholic priest.