By Murugi Ndwiga
The Catholic Church in Kenya is reeling from shock and grief following the brutal killing of a second priest in just under a month, sparking fears that religious leaders may be the new targets in an increasingly unsafe country.
On Thursday, May 22, Father Alloyce Cheruiyot Bett was shot dead in cold blood in Tot, Kerio Valley — a region long plagued by insecurity. The priest, described by many as a dedicated servant of peace and faith, was returning to his parish after presiding over a Jumuiya (small Christian community) Mass in Kakbiken village. He was ambushed and fatally shot in the neck by unknown assailants.
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The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed the arrest of six suspects and ruled out cattle rustling or banditry as the motive behind the attack — a revelation that has only deepened the mystery and public concern.
“This was not a case of banditry,” said NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga. “Investigations are ongoing, but preliminary findings suggest the attack was deliberate and targeted.”
Father Bett’s killing occurred on the same day that Father John Maina of Igwamiti Parish in Nyahururu was being laid to rest — just a week after he was found dead under similarly disturbing circumstances. His bruised body was discovered by a boda boda rider along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway. Father Maina had reportedly been abducted days earlier, shortly after hosting a high-profile visitor at his parish.
The two killings — both violent and still unresolved — have raised alarm within the Church and beyond.
Following Father Bett’s murder, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich cut short his engagements in Sambirir Ward. The tragedy has rocked the county, even as national leaders remain largely silent on the spate of clerical killings.
Meanwhile, the broader picture is equally troubling. Cases of violent crime, targeted assassinations, and lawlessness appear to be on the rise across Kenya, even as the government insists it is making strides in addressing insecurity. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently outlined progress in fighting banditry, but for many Kenyans — especially those in rural or marginalized areas — the lived reality tells a different story.
For the Catholic Church, these recent killings are more than isolated tragedies. They are a troubling sign that even the sanctity of the pulpit is no longer immune to the growing tide of violence.
As parishioners light candles and hold vigils, the unanswered question hangs heavy in the air: Who is targeting the men of God — and why?