The Catholic Diocese of Eldoret Bishop Dominic Kimengich has called on the State Department for Internal Security to move with speed with investigations to bring to book the suspects of the murder of the slain Catholic priest who was killed in Elgeyo Marakwet while in the line of duty.
Speaking when he presided over the Holy Mass in honour of the late Fr Allois Cheruiyot Bett, Bishop Dominic, accompanied by his auxiliary Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei, joined others across the region in offering condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
He eulogized the late priest as a hard-working and jovial person whose work contributed to the faith of many congregants.
“We gather in faith and gratitude to celebrate the life and service of a devoted servant of God. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he said.
He urged the congregation to continue praying persistently in a special way as he requested the security agencies to expedite the process to ensure justice for the deceased has been prevailed and that the killers are apprehended.
The bishop appealed to the people from the volatile region to abide by the law to avoid further loss of lives noting that most people have died in Kerio Valley in heinous circumstances regardless of their age.
He emphasized the precious value of lives of every person in the society noting that every life matters be it for the children, mothers or all the people of Kenya.
He added that, “Let this be a wakeup call for all of us to respect life and to promote the rule of law. For instance, in the case of abductions, this has made life so cheap that people are killed and we seem not to care, we should protect those lives, even those in remote areas because life is precious.”
Bishop Kimengich recalled that people in the region have suffered for decades as he prayed that may the life of the late priest serve as a reflection to the society and mark the end of the violence experienced in Kerio valley
“This is our message, that the blood which our priest Allois shed, be the seed of lasting peace in Kerio valley and Kenya as a whole and we are appealing to the government to rise to the occasion and truly bring order,” noted Bishop Kimengich.
“Because if we let these killers be free, then we are promoting the culture of impunity and when the crime is not punished and perpetrators not apprehended, then we will end up having a chaotic society,” he added.
Others present were Governors; Wesley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet), Stephen Sang (Nandi), Dr. Jonathan Chelilim Bii (Uasin Gishu), Nandi Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Cheruiyot, Diocese of Eldoret ACK Bishop Christopher Rutto and others.
By Dorothy Chepkwemoi and Ekuwam Sylvester
