A Catholic priest has been confirmed dead days after another priest from the church died under mysterious circumstances. Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett of St. Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish was on Thursday, May 22 shot and killed following an attack.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge confirmed that the priest was killed by unknown people suspected to be bandits in Kerio Valley.
Mulinge said the priest was on his way to a church service when the incident occurred and indicated that further investigations are ongoing to track down the attackers.
The National Police Service (NPS) later in a statement while confirming the incident said that it occurred in Mokoro Location, Kakiptul Sub-Location, Kabartile Village.
“General Service Unit officers responded swiftly and established that Father Bett was accosted and fatally shot by armed assailants. A manhunt was immediately launched, and six suspects have since been arrested and are currently in custody,” read part of the statement.
National Police Service issues statement on death of Catholic Father Allois Bett
However, NPS said that preliminary investigations indicate that the incident is not in any way related to cattle rustling or banditry.
In March this year, four people were killed in two separate banditry incidents in Kerio Valley, raising tensions in the region after a period of relative calm.
The first attack on March 4 in Dira, Tiaty constituency, Baringo County left a herder dead, with the assailants driving away an unknown number of livestock.
A retaliatory attack followed shortly after, leaving three people dead. The three included two pupils from Kimongo Primary School.
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Preliminary reports indicate that the victims were ambushed and shot on their way home from school near Soko Bora, close to Tot in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The attacks happened after three people were killed on Kolowa Bridge as they returned from Kolowa Market to Tot in February.
Father Bett’s death happened on the day Father John Maina Ndegwa from Igwamiti Catholic Parish, Nyahururu was laid to rest after he succumbed to injuries last week on Thursday.
Father John Maina laid to rest
Presided over by Bishop Joseph Mbatia, the mass was attended by priests, Christians and a section of local leaders at the Tabor Hill Spirituality Centre in Ol-Joro Oork constituency.
Father John was found dumped on the roadside along the Gilgil-Nairobi Highway. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the priest told the good Samaritan, a boda boda rider, that he had been abducted from Nyahururu.
It was reported that he had bruises on the left side of his head at the rime before the rider took him to St. Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Gilgil.
“Upon arrival at the hospital, he displayed visible injuries, including bruises on the left side of his head, which were oozing blood. Tragically, despite the efforts of medical personnel, Fr. Maina passed on while undergoing treatment minutes after being admitted. His body was moved to the Nyahururu Sub-County morgue upon request by his fellow worshippers for preservation and autopsy,” said DCI.
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On May 19, the autopsy was conducted by Dr. Ngulungu, a government pathologist with preliminary findings revealing that the bruises observed on Fr. Maina’s head were unlikely to be the cause of death.
Consequently, samples were collected and sent for further toxicological analysis.
The priest had on April 27 attended a silver jubilee anniversary ceremony of his parish and the ordination of Father Simon Thuita attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other politicians.
DCI said that it has been established that Fr. Maina was being trailed by some individuals who were demanding a share of the money allegedly given to him after he presided over the ceremony.
Further, detectives said they are investigating reports that the priest had claimed his life was in danger, though he had not reported the same at any police station.
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