Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen with senior police officers during a security tour in Kerio Valley /MATHEWS NDANYIKerio Valley region is almost free of bandits after most of the youth involved surrendered along with the guns they have been using, National Police Service has said.
This came as the police finally arrested the prime suspect
in the murder of Catholic Priest Fr Allois Cheruiyot Bett in Kerio Valley in
May 2025.
The suspect was arrested after he shot dead another man
using an arrow during a quarrel over clan land in the same Kerio Valley area.
A senior police officer who led the operation to arrest the
suspect confirmed they had finally apprehended the suspected killer.
Zablon Okoyo, who is the subcounty police commander for
Kerio Valley East, confirmed that the prime suspect was under interrogation.
Okoyo said the suspect had already been arraigned before a
magistrate in connection with the killing during the land dispute.
“The DCI are now handling the case and analysing evidence
linking him to the murder of the priest, after which a decision on the way
forward would be made,” he said.
Okoyo said a file on the murder of the priest had been
opened last year and remained active as police looked for suspects involved in
the murder.
Fr Allois was shot dead on Thursday, May 22, 2025, sparking
a national outcry that led to a massive operation in Kerio Valley to hunt down
the killers.
He was shot dead by armed men in Tot, Kerio Valley, Elgeyo
Marakwet county, while returning from celebrating mass in the village of
Kabien/Kakbiken.
He served at St Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish in the Diocese
of Eldoret.
His murder sparked national outrage and led to the closure
of Catholic missions and Chesongoch Mission Hospital in Kerio Valley due to
insecurity.
He was buried on June 3, 2025, at Holy Family Parish,
Ol’lessos, Nandi county.
Since the murder of the priest, the security operation in the
area has been ongoing, and the government has granted an amnesty to residents
illegally holding funds to surrender the weapons.
Within the last one year, more than 500 guns have been
surrendered to security forces and hundreds of reformed bandits have also
surrendered.
Sources indicate the arrested suspect had earlier been among
those who surrendered their guns to the police but was being monitored.
Okoyo said most parts of Kerio Valley were now experiencing
heightened business and other activities which had died out due to banditry
attacks.
“This individuals who are still holding guns illegally can
not even use the arms because residents are keen to ensure that peace and
security prevails,” Okoyo said.
Over 500 illegal guns have so far been surrendered to
security teams in the region where CS for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen has been
working with other security chiefs and leaders to ensure restoration of
security in the region.
Residents and leaders have supported government efforts to
restore peace in the region and more than Sh1.5 billion is being invested on
roads and other projects aimed at helping to open up the region for
development.
