Police in Kerio Valley have arrested one of the prime suspects involved in the murder of Catholic priest Fr Allois Cheruiyot Bett.
The man was cornered by residents at Tot subcounty hospital where he had gone to seek refuge as he was being chased by the locals and police reservists.
He was handed over to a police Special Operations Group (SOP), which has been deployed for an operation to arrest the killers.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge confirmed the arrest and said the operation was still going on.
“We have the operation intensified so that we get all the others,” Mulinge said.
Sources said a search was still going on for three more suspects.
This came as the Catholic run Chesongoch Mission Hospital was shut down after staff left the area, fearing for their safety.
Police intensified the hunt for the suspects linked to the murder.
A four-day ultimatum to the community in the area to have the suspects surrender expired on Thursday, and the special team of DCI officers is camping in the area to hunt for suspects bandits involved in the killing.
DIG of Police Eliud Lagat who had visited the area last weekend, has warned that if the suspects are not surrendered, police would use all necessary force to get them.
He issued the warning after elders in the area requested four days to help hand over the suspects.
“If you will not help us to get them, then it will not be business as usual,” Lagat said.
Three governors have also asked the Marakwet community to surrender or help arrest criminals who shot dead Fr Bett in Kerio Valley.
The church has announced that Fr Bett will be buried on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Holy Family Parish church, Olessos in Nandi County.
Bishop of the Eldoret Diocese Dominic Kimengich announced the burial date for the priest whose killing has sparked widespread outrage.
The priest was aged 35 years and had served for less than three years.
Bishop Kimengich has said the church wants justice for the deceased and a clear move to end violence in Kerio Valley.
“What we have seen in Kerio Valley is enough. The killings have to stop so that our people can enjoy peace and development,” Bishop Kimengich said.
Governors Stephen Sang of Nandi, Wesley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet, Jonathan Bii of Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge and the Uasin Gishu Assembly Speaker Phillip Muigei condemned the murder of the priest.
Governor Rotich apologised to the church and noted that the killing was done by individuals and not the entire community in the area.
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 said the community had agreed to produce the individuals involved in the killing.
