President William Ruto has condemned the killing of Catholic priest Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett, who was gunned down by unknown assailants in Kabartile Village, Elgeyo Marakwet County, vowing swift justice for the perpetrators.
Father Bett, a clergy member at St. Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish, was ambushed and fatally shot on Thursday evening in Mokoro Location, Kakiptul Sub-Location. The attack shocked the nation and sparked an immediate response from security agencies.
Taking to social media on Friday, President Ruto eulogized Father Bett as a devoted spiritual leader and a beacon of peace in the volatile Kerio Valley region.
“Fr. Allois was a tireless promoter of peace and a true faith leader whose sermons were genuine, clear and targeted,” Ruto said. “May God grant the family and friends strength to bear this painful death. We will hunt down his killers as we commit to restore peace in the Kerio Valley. Rest in Peace, Father.”
The President assured the public that his administration is determined to bring those responsible to book and restore calm in the troubled region.
The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that six suspects had been arrested in connection with the priest’s killing. According to NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, the suspects were apprehended following an urgent manhunt launched by General Service Unit (GSU) officers.
Nyaga also clarified that the incident was not related to the cattle rustling or rampant banditry that has long plagued the North Rift.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the murder of Father Bett was not linked to the usual inter-community conflicts. We are pursuing leads to establish the motive,” Nyaga stated.
