Slain Catholic priest Allois Bett will be buried on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Eldoret Diocese Bishop Dominic Kimengich announced the burial date for the priest whose killing has sparked widespread outrage.
The church said he would be buried at the Holy Family Parish, Ol’lessos, in his home county of Nandi.
“He was a great servant of God and we will send him off in a befitting manner,” Bishop Kimengich said.
He spoke after presiding over a holy mass held in Eldoret in honour of the priest who was shot dead by bandits in Kerio Valley on May 22.
The Holy Mass was held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral to honour the deceased who was based at St Lumumba in Tot area.
During the mass, three governors have asked the Marakwet community to surrender or help arrest criminals who shot dead Catholic priest Father Allois Bett in Kerio Valley.
The county chiefs said they had attended a peace meeting in the area where members of the community confessed that they knew the killers were yet to be arrested.
Eldoret Diocese Bishop Dominic Kimengich and Auxiliary Bishop John Kiplimo Arap Lelei presided over the mass.
Present also were Governors Stephen Sang of Nandi, Wesley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet, Jonathan Bii of Uasin Gishu, Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge, Uasin Gishu Assembly Speaker Phillip Muigei and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Lawi Kibire.
Governor Sang regretted that the community in Elgeyo Marakwet had claimed they knew the criminals who killed Fr Bett but could not hand over the killers because of fear and intimidation.
“We want justice to be done for our late Fr Bett and those criminals must be surrendered to face the law,” Sang said.
He said the community should surrender the killers instead of waiting for the government to act in a manner that will get the killers but cause suffering to everyone.
Governor Rotich mourned the deceased as a close friend and played a critical role in strengthening peace and unity among communities in Kerio Valley.
“Everyone was asking me why we have gone this low, to the extent of killing a priest. This killing has brought as shame to the Marakwet community, but it was done by one individual,” Rotich said.
He said the community had agreed to produce the individual involved in the killing.
“Fr Bett died in the line of duty to liberate us, and we will not accept to have his blood go in vain,” Rotich said.
Rotich said he was pained and was praying to God that the killing of the priest be the last blood to shower the region with peace and unity.
Governor Sang said the time had come for action to end insecurity in Kerio Valley.
“We have lost peace ambassadors, children, parents, and progressively the criminals have crossed one line after another,” Sang said.
Sang said there had been so many peace meetings and commitments, but still blood was being shed in the region.
“We just hope that the blood of Fr Bett will be the last and that his death will help us achieve peace and unity,” Sang said.
He said the government was currently pumping a lot of resources into finding peace in Kerio Valley and hoped that the same would eventually translate to development.
Governor Bii said the region has lost a great church leader whose killers should not be let go scot free.
“The same God whom Fr Bett served will reveal and bring to justice the criminal who took his life,” Bii said.
Bishop Kimengich asked the government to end the senseless killing of innocent people in the country.
“We gather in faith and gratitude to celebrate the life and service of a devoted servant of God. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Bishop Kimengich said.
Also in attendance was ACK Bishop of Eldoret Thomas Ruto.
