Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich during an event on May 24, 2025/COURTESYElgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich has announced a Sh100,000 cash reward for any individual who provides credible information leading to the arrest, dead or alive, of bandits behind a spate of killings in the Kerio Valley region.
Expressing frustration over the persistent insecurity in the area, Rotich noted that Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett’s death marked the third killing in the region within a week.
"Mimi leo nimetangaza kama governor, mhalifu yeyote ataletwa whether alive or dead, mimi nitatoa shilingi elfu mia moja," he said.
(Today, I declare as governor that anyone who brings in a criminal, dead or alive, will receive Sh100,000.)
The county boss made the remarks during the county pastoral region family day celebrations held at Nerkwo Parish grounds.
The mass was presided over by Catholic Diocese of Eldoret Bishop Rt. Rev Dominic Kimengich and Auxiliary Bishop John Lelei.
He added: “Kuliko nichange mazishi kuanzia January mpaka January, afadhali nipatie informer atatuonyesha mahali mhalifu yuko.”
(Instead of contributing to funerals throughout the year, I’d rather reward someone who helps locate these criminals so the police can arrest them.)
Defending the move, the governor compared the bounty to the reward systems used by the US government to capture wanted criminals.
He stated that it was time to clean up Kerio Valley and restore lasting peace.
Rotich mourned the late Father Bett, who was killed by suspected bandits, as "an extraordinary servant of God, a man whose dedication, zeal, and charisma left a lasting impact on those he interacted with."
"His killing is a big blow to peaceful gains in the Kerio Valley."
Bishop Kimengich urged the national government to shift from rhetoric to tangible action to end banditry and ensure peace in the region.
“Enough is enough. Our people deserve to live without fear,” he said.
Other leaders present at the event included Women Representative Caroline Ng’elechei and MCAs Hillary Kiplagat and Mercy Jepkurui, who echoed calls for decisive action against the rising insecurity.
