Days before the assassination of Father Alloys Cheruiyot Bett, a peace ambassador and beloved local priest in the troubled Kerio Valley — fresh revelations indicate that individuals identifying themselves as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had visited him at his home under unclear circumstances.
According to a report by The Standard Sunday edition, the alleged DCI officers made several unexplained visits in the days leading up to the priest’s murder. The paper quotes unnamed sources close to the late cleric, raising concerns that Father Bett may have been under surveillance.
“They didn’t have a clear reason for their presence. They claimed to be investigating something, but they came repeatedly,” one source told The Standard.
Father Bett, widely respected for his work in promoting peace among pastoralist communities in the restive Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties, had recently intensified his efforts to mediate violent disputes fueled by cattle rustling and resource competition. His work placed him at the center of delicate inter-community talks, often stepping into spaces where even government officials feared to tread.
His brutal killing — gunned down along a remote stretch near Tot — has triggered national outrage and speculation about the real motive behind his murder. Was he silenced for what he knew? Did his peace efforts threaten vested interests?
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is now under immense pressure, with growing calls for accountability over the deteriorating security situation in the North Rift. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has called for Murkomen’s removal, citing continued killings and a slow government response. He described Murkomen as “incompetent” and out of touch with realities on the ground.
While Murkomen has previously defended his record, citing the opening of security roads and joint operations in the Kerio Valley since his December 2024 appointment, these efforts have done little to calm the region or reassure residents.
The murder of Father Bett draws haunting parallels to past cases of slain clergy whose deaths remain unresolved — from vocal priests to human rights defenders whose advocacy placed them at odds with shadowy forces.
Now, questions linger: Who were the people who visited Father Bett? What did he know that may have cost him his life? And will justice prevail — or will this become yet another forgotten file in a country with a growing list of unsolved murders?
As investigations continue, the people of Kerio Valley and beyond mourn a man they considered a voice of hope in a valley of fear.
