The
Catholic Church has shut down its missionary operations and stations in Kerio
Valley, including the Chesongoch Mission Hospital, due to worsening insecurity
in the region.
The
hospital, with over 100 staff, has been the main health facility in the region,
serving thousands of residents.
A
statement from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters issued an official notice on
its decision to shut down the Kerio Valley mission due to insecurity.
The
statement said that following the killing of Father Allois Bett by suspected
bandits last week, there had been continued unrest in the region affecting its
missionary work.
“There
has been high tension of insecurity causing mental, emotional, and
psychological trauma to our sisters,” said the statement.
The
statement said the mission was now unable to run essential services due to lack
of staff who are fleeing from the area.
“We
have therefore arrived at the decision, with immediate effect, to close our
mission stations indefinitely until the area is safe for service,” said the
statement signed by Sister Rosa Pascal, who is head of the mission.
She
said the closure was meant to ensure the safety of sisters working in the
region, employees, and those who visit the mission stations for various
reasons.
“It’s
also meant to press the government for a lasting solution to peace in the area,
including disarming civilians,” said Sister Pascal.
She
said the move was to remind the people of Kerio Valley about the relevance of
the mission to the community.
“If
the community does not consider our mission as essential to them, then there is
no need for our presence,” said the statement.
This
comes over a week after the killing of Father Bett, who was serving at St.
Mulumba Parish near Tot.
He
was returning from a Jumuiya mass when he was ambushed and shot dead by armed
bandits.
The
murder sparked tensions and fear amid reports that the bandits were targeting
non-locals.
Father
Bett will be buried on Tuesday at Ol Lessos Parish in Nandi County.
