Murkomen Visits Family of Slain Priest, Vows Justice and Sustained Security in Kerio Valley
🕊️ A Personal Visit to Mourn a Fallen Priest
Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, today paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Rev. Fr. Alloys Cheruiyot Bett in Cheplasgei Village, Kilibwoni Division, Nandi County.
Fr. Bett, the beloved priest of St. Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish, was shot dead by assailants in Kabigen, Kerio Valley, on May 22, 2025. The tragedy has sparked grief across the country and renewed concerns over insecurity in the North Rift.
💬 Murkomen’s Statement: “We Will Not Relent”
Accompanied by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, Emgwen MP Josses Lelmengit, and other leaders, CS Murkomen extended heartfelt sympathies to Fr. Bett’s parents, Eunice and Joseph Binder, his siblings, and the Catholic Church at large.
“Fr. Alloys was a deeply committed and energetic servant of God who went beyond the call of pastoral duty to foster peace and harmony in the community he faithfully served and loved.”
Murkomen described the priest’s death as a major blow to ongoing peace efforts, especially at a time when Kerio Valley had started seeing signs of pacification after intensified operations against banditry.
📉 Security Gains and a Shifting Threat
According to the Interior CS, the government’s anti-banditry operations have reduced attacks in the region by 50% compared to 2024. However, he acknowledged that criminals, now cornered, are resorting to acts of terror, targeting civilians and peace actors like Fr. Bett.
“The recent killings of Bonface Ongote, Simon Njaga, and now Fr. Bett reflect a change of strategy by these criminals… We will not scale down operations—we will escalate them.”
⚖️ Justice Will Be Served
Murkomen promised that the perpetrators would face the harshest punishment, reaffirming the government’s resolve to completely eliminate banditry and criminal elements in the region.
He called on residents of Kerio Valley Sub-County to remain cooperative with security forces to ensure lasting peace is achieved.
“We mourn those we’ve lost, but we are confident that our collective efforts will lead to sustainable peace.”
👥 Leaders Present at the Visit
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CS Kipchumba Murkomen, Interior and National Administration
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Stephen Sang, Governor, Nandi County
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Josses Lelmengit, Member of Parliament, Emgwen
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Eliud Lagat, Deputy Inspector General – KPS
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Geoffrey Chemalan, Area MCA
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Jillet Jillo, Nandi Central Sub-County DCC
