- Dr Allois Bett was shot and killed on Thursday, May 22, in the Nandi area, residents suspecting that he was targeted on suspicion of cooperating with officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (DCI) in an anti -robbery operation
- Residents claimed that people believed to be DCI officials visited Patriarch Bett twice a few days before his death
- The murder of Patriarch Bett, as well as other recent incidents of killing civilians, signifies the change in hiding bandits who are now trying to spread fear and disrupt peace efforts in the Kerio Valley
NANDI: The Cheplasgei village community in the Kilibwoni area is still mourning the brutal killings of Patriarch Allois Cheruiyot Bett, the priest of the Catholic Church of St. Matthias Mulumba Tot.
Source: Facebook
According to local sources, Patriarch Bett was returning home from community worship when he was shot and killed by armed men.
Why was Patriarch Bett killed?
The killings have sparked anger and fear in the area, residents and church members feeling that he was targeted on suspicion of cooperating with authorities in the anti -robbery operation.
Reports indicate that people believed to be officers of DCI They visited Patriarch Bett’s residence on May 16 and 17 – just a few days before being killed. However, the priest had gone to the official church activities at the time. News of the visit spread rapidly in the area, raising doubts among local criminals that Patriarch Bett was a informant.
Communities claim they are aware of the priest’s killer, saying he is still roaming freely in the area. The killings have been described by residents as a targeted attack, aiming to intimidate those who support the government’s efforts to strengthen security in the area.
What did the Minister of Internal Security, Kipchumba Murkomen, say about the murder of Patriarch Bett?
Minister Kipchumba Murkomenwho visited the family of Patriarch Bett on Saturday, May 24, condemned the killings and vowed that the government would not be intimidated by criminals trying to disrupt the anti -robbery operation in the Kerio valley.
“This is a major blow to the peace efforts we have put in the last two years. The incidents of robbery have decreased by 50 percent this year compared to 2024, due to the work of our security officials and community leaders, including religious leaders like Patriarch Bett,” Said Murkomen.
He added that despite recent achievements, bandits have changed tactics by hiding in society and targeting civilians and those who contribute to peace.
Murkomen mentioned the murder of civilians Bonface Ongote and Simon Njaga and Patriarch Bett as evidence of criminals.
Source: Facebook
“The victims are young people between the ages of 16 and 20. At the age of 21, they call themselves commanders,” Murkomen said. “You witnessed what they did to Patriarch Bett – something that had never happened before. A week ago, we added pressure, arrested some of them, and in the fight with the police, the ‘commander’ was killed.
He made it clear that there was no chance of negotiations with criminals carrying weapons and stressed that the chief suspect of the murder of Patriarch Bett would be arrested.
“We will not be able to negotiate with any robber. Either you hand over your gun, or we will follow you. No threat will take us back.”
While investigations are underway, the murder of Patriarch Bett has shown the dangers facing religious leaders and community members cooperating with the government to restore peace in the fragile area of the Kerio valley.
Read English version
Do you have an exciting information that you would like to publish? Please, contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
