The late Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett.
Governors and clerics said Father Allois Bett who was murdered during a peace mission in Tot, Kerio Valley, last week should be the last sacrificial lamb to restore peace to the anarchic North Rift.
Speaking during a Holy mass in remembrance of the slain priest, the leaders regretted that despite the government investing a lot of money in the fight against cattle rustling and banditry, the region has continued to experience an endless cycle of the same.
At the mass held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Eldoret, politicians condemned banditry terming it as a shame to the country.
“As a son of Kerio Valley and governor from the region where this incident occurred, I have been disturbed, and this is a shame to us. However, it should not be used to condemn the whole community, but individuals who did it must be arrested immediately,” said Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich.
Governor Rotich said since the incident happened, locals have been meeting to identify criminals who eliminated the late priest, with the hope of revealing all the criminals behind the incident.
Mr Rotich told the congregations that the local community had assured him that in the next three days, they were going to reveal the killers of the late father.
“Yesterday, the community told us to give them only three days and they are going to give us the names of the culprits for justice to be served,” said Mr Rotich.
He asked clerics to pray for the residents of Kerio Valley, noting that no one is safe in the region.
He expressed fear that even leaders from the region are not spared by the criminals in the Kerio Valley.
“Pray for everybody in Kerio Valley, even me as we speak now I am not safe,” he said.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang echoed the sentiments of his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart saying it is time to act and avert too much talk without action.
“It is apparent that a lot of words do not help. It is clear that the security situation in Elgeyo Marakwet, particularly in Kerio Valley, is very complex and for anybody outside you may not understand,” said Mr Sang.
Mr Sang said due to the fragile security situation in the region, many people have lost their lives as a result of insecurity related to banditry and cattle rustling.
He regretted that the killings have not spared even peace ambassadors like the late father, children, and women.
“Peace ambassadors, children, and mothers have been killed and as the bishop says, progressively these criminals have crossed one red line after another.
A priest was killed in the line of duty. Every time we have lost people in that region we have had committees, resolutions, and discussions, but every red line has been crossed and this one must be the last one where an innocent soul is lost.
We must stop talking without acting, it is time to refocus on development in that region and completely eradicate this menace,” said Mr Sang.
He said one of the key factors contributing to insecurity in the region is lack of development, noting that for a long time, it has been forgotten in development.
“The communities from that region have clearly explained that one of the reasons why there is insecurity is that the region has been forgotten in terms of development,” he said.
The governor, however, regretted that a lot of money that is pumped into the region is for security and not development.
He said the time has come for a lot of money that the government is pumping into the region for security purposes should be diverted to development and economic empowerment.
“The region has been receiving a lot of money from the national government, but not for development but to deal with insecurity. We would like to increase the allocation so that the resources can be used for the development of the region and stop such cases of insecurity,” added Mr Sang.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii said it was painful and unfortunate that the priest who was committed to his missionary work had to die such a death.
Mr Bii described the deceased as a dedicated servant of God who did not deserve such a death.
“It is painful to the family and the society to lose a great person in such a manner bearing in mind he sacrificed his life for the sake of Christ and service to humanity,” said Mr Bii.
Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop Dominic Kimengich said the killing of Father Bett should be a wake-up call to the government to protect all Kenyans.
“The blood which our priest Alloys shed, let it be the seal of lasting peace in Kerio Valley and Kenya as a whole. We are appealing to the government to rise to the occasion and bring order to the region,” said Bishop Kimengich.
The bishop pleaded with the government to deal firmly with those behind the heinous acts in the region and the country at large.
He said that laxity by the government to stamp authority in the region has made criminals continue to reign terror on residents.
“We are appealing to the government to rise to the occasion and deal with these people. When a crime is not punished, we end up with a very chaotic society,” added Bishop Kimengich.
The leaders insisted on the need to deal with individual criminals in the region to protect the gains made in peacebuilding.
The late priest will be laid to rest on Friday, May 30.
