The Catholic Church on Thursday demanded a full inquiry into the deaths of two priests murdered this month as fresh details emerged of the last moments and cause of death of Father Allois Bett and Father John Maina.
The Church, in a statement, now says Father Maina, who died in hospital while receiving treatment, could have been poisoned, introducing a fresh twist to the murder that is still fresh in the minds of many Kenyans.
Catholic priests carry the casket bearing the remains of Fr John Maina during his funeral at Tabor Hill Catholic Cemetery in Ol Jororok, Nyandarua County on May 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Father Bett, on the other hand, was killed by a single gunman in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet on May 22.
“Father Maina died while undergoing treatment, in what appears to be a case of possible kidnapping and poisoning. This seems to indicate murder of foul play,” Archbishop Maurice Muhatia, who chairs the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), said in a statement.
Archbishop Muhatia condemned the killing of Father Bett, who was shot dead by unidentified people “as he was coming from ministering to the very poor”.
"This is murder most foul... How can it be that security can't be guaranteed for those serving in these remote areas? Who is really behind such a meticulously executed murder?" Archbishop Muhatia asked.
Serah Wambui (left), mother of Fr John Maina, is comforted during his funeral at Tabor Hill Catholic Cemetery in Ol Jororok, Nyandarua County on May 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned the murders, saying: "We as Catholic Bishops are totally dismayed by how cheap life has become, where murders and deaths are taken lightly, and used carelessly for political expediency."
“We demand a deep inquiry into these deaths, to reveal the real circumstances and motives, so as to ensure the security and safety of our priests and all Kenyans," the KCCB statement adds.
For Father Bett, his story and untimely end is best told in Kerio Valley, a place where illegal guns flow freely, riddled with cattle rustling and banditry.
The Catholic priest entered places where many feared, preaching hope to the residents of Tot, Marakwet East, who for many years had not witnessed peace.
Joseph Binder and Eunice Binder, the parents of the late Fr. Allois Cheruiyot Bett, with Fr Dominic Kibet Rotich on May 28, 2025 at the family's home in Cheplasgei Village in Emgwen Constituency, Nandi County.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
The man of God made it his mission to go where the gospel and message of peace were needed most, armed with nothing but his Bible.
He entered a remote and dangerous place to conduct prayers with the small Christian community, popularly referred to as Jumuia by Catholic faithful, and changed many hearts of those who enrolled in his Matthias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Tot.
Although Father Bett’s words of hope changed many hearts, not everyone in the banditry-prone area welcomed his missionary work.
On May 22, 2025, he took the gospel to one of the villages, never to return to his Tot parish headquarters alive.
A lone gunman, well-known to the villagers, waited for him as he returned to his parked car. A gunshot cracked through the air and the man of God fell to the ground, blood soaking into his cassock, and he breathed his last.
“Although they killed him, his spirit is still with us. His mission of spreading the gospel and giving hope to the disheartened will go now beyond his death,” his father, Joseph Kiptoo Arap Binder, told the Nation at their Kilibwoni home on Wednesday.
His murder shook not only his family, but also the entire Eldoret diocese to which he belonged, triggering an outcry among regional leaders.
Titus Koech, who was a classmate of Fr. Allois Cheruiyot Bett, holds his photo at his parents' home in Cheplasgei Village, Nandi County on May 28, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
Father Bett, the youngest of five children, attended Manman Primary School where he sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination in 2008, before joining the Catholic-sponsored Kimaren Secondary School in Aldai, Nandi County.
He later proceeded to Christ the King Seminary in Nyeri for eight years and was ordained into priesthood on November 5, 2022, at Kabiyet parish in Nandi County under the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret.
His first posting was at Salient Parish in Nandi for one year, before his transfer to Marakwet Boys and later to Tot Parish, where he met his death after five months in the area.
“It pains a lot to lose such a promising man. He touched the hearts of many and was determined to change the lives of more,” his father said in an interview at their Cheplasgei village in Emgwen, Nandi County.
The priest’s mother, Eunice Chepkemboi, described him as a hardworking man who assisted many in the society, beyond his missionary work.
“He supported four children to pursue their education and was always ready to transform many livelihoods. Unfortunately, he was gunned down at his prime age. We are going to miss him a lot,” she said.
Ms Chepkemboi demanded justice for her son and asked the government to bring the perpetrators to book and restore peace in the volatile Kerio Valley.
“I know I will never see my son again. He committed no crime apart from spreading the gospel and preaching peace. Justice must be seen to be done by ensuring that the killers are arrested to face the law,” she said.
Father Dominic Kibet Rotich of Holy Family Catholic parish in Nandi County, who attended Christ the King Seminary together with the slain priest, said he performed his priesthood work with passion and love.
“It is painful that he died at the hands of the same people he was out to ensure coexisted peacefully. But what I know is that darkness will not overcome the light. Father Bett might be gone, but his peace mission is still on cause,” said Father Rotich.
Fr. Duncan Ruto (holding photograph) and other classmates of Fr. Allois Cheruiyot Bett at his parent’s home in Cheplasgei Village, Nandi County on May 28, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation
Like the late Father Bett, Father Rotich has worked in Endo parish in Kerio Valley and wants the government to find long-lasting peace in the region.
“Let the murder of Father Bett bring peace to Kerio Valley. The government needs to do more in terms of disarmament and mop up illegal firearms in the region,” appealed Father Rotich.
Another priest, Father Dancan Ruto who was a classmate to the late Father Bett at Kimaren Secondary School and at the seminary, said the priest died while championing peace and unity in the volatile region.
Eldoret diocese Bishop Dominic Kimengich said burial arrangements have been finalised and Father Bett will be laid to rest at his Kilibwoni Parish in Nandi County on June 3.
Eldoret Catholic Diocese Auxiliary Bishop, Rt Rev. John Kiplimo Arap Lelei, said the killing is regrettable and asked the government to arrest the killers.
“We fail to understand why the killers targeted the priest yet he was well known in the area,” he said, adding that it seemed to be a case of premeditated murder.
Bishop Lelei said non-locals living in Chesongoch, Tot and Endo have received threats. He asked the government to hasten investigations into the claims.
“Most non-locals in the area, including priests, teachers and other civil servants, are living in fear of attack on claims that they are spying and offering information to security agents on criminal activities,” he said.
“The actual killers of the priest are still at large. They are well known by the locals and the government needs to act tough and ensure long-lasting peace is restored in the region.”
“A manhunt was immediately launched and six suspects have since been arrested and are currently in custody. Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident is not in any way related to cattle rustling or banditry,” said Mr Muchiri Nyaga, the police spokesperson.
Elgeyo Marakwet County police boss Peter Mulinge urged the locals to cooperate with the security agencies in the fight against crime. "We are not going to stop until the killers are brought to book. It is either the criminals surrender or we go for them in their hideouts," he said.
