Hundreds of people attending night vigil and candle lighting to honor slain father Allois Bett, June 1, 2025. /MATHEWS NDANYIHundreds of Catholic faithful turned out in Eldoret for a night vigil and candle-lighting ceremony in honour of slain priest Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett.
Mourners marched through the streets, singing hymns in tribute.
The vigil was led by Father Gideon Bett, a classmate of the deceased, at the Nandi Gardens roundabout.
“We gather here to send off our friend Father Bett and pray that God receives him after the dedicated service he did for all of us,” said Father Gideon.
The Catholic Church is set to hold a requiem mass and body viewing for Father Bett on Monday at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Eldoret, ahead of his burial on Tuesday in Nandi county.
His body will be moved from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue and escorted in a procession to the church, with roads temporarily closed for the 2km journey.
After the mass, the body will be taken to Holy Family Ol’Lessos Parish in Nandi for a night vigil.
On Tuesday, it will proceed to St Michael’s Terige High School for public viewing and a funeral mass. Father Bett will be laid to rest at the Ol’Lessos Parish cemetery.
Top government officials and clergy are expected to attend.
Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Eldoret will lead the funeral rites.
Father Bett, who served at St Mulumba Church in Tot, Kerio Valley, was shot dead by bandits two weeks ago while returning from a Jumuiya mass in a nearby village, about two kilometres from the church.
“It is a big loss to the Church and the community. We continue to demand justice for him. His killers must be held accountable,” said Bishop Kimengich.
The killing has sparked national outrage and heightened tensions in Kerio Valley.
Following the incident, the Catholic Church suspended its operations in the region, including at Chesongoch Mission Hospital.
Around 100 health workers, including nurses and clinicians, have withdrawn due to insecurity.
Chesongoch Hospital, the region’s primary health facility, has served thousands of residents.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich expressed concern over the situation, saying efforts were underway to restore peace.
“We are working with the national government to ensure peace and security return to the region so that normal operations can resume,” said Rotich.
The Missionary Benedictine Sisters, who run the mission, issued a statement announcing the indefinite closure of their stations due to growing insecurity.
“There has been high tension, causing mental, emotional, and psychological trauma to our sisters,” said Sister Rosa Pascal, the head of the mission.
She added that the closure was necessary to protect staff and visitors and to pressure the government into disarming civilians and restoring lasting peace.
“If the community does not consider our mission essential, then there is no need for our presence,” she stated.
