They kill priest of the Catholic Church in Kenya: the second in a week that dies from violence

Father Alloyce Cheruiyot Bett was killed on May 22 in Kenya. He is the second Catholic priest who loses his life in a week because of violence in the African country.

According to the VATICAN AGENCY FIDESthe murder occurred in the Tot area, in the Kerio Valley, belonging to the County of Elgeyo Marakwet in the Western Altiplano of Kenya.

The attack occurred after the priest celebrated the Mass in the Christian community of the Kakbiken village. According to witnesses, a group of armed men opened fire and one of the shots reached the priest in the neck, causing death.

Local sources cited by FIDES point out that the murderers would have believed that the priest was an informant in a security operation in the area and that is why they shot him.

The diocese of Eldoret, to the belonging Fr. Bett, lamented what happened and expressed his deep sadness “for the tragic and premature death” of the priest.

“This sense of meaningless bandit has deprived the Catholic diocese of Eldoret of a devout servant of God, a compassionate soul and a pillar of hope for many. Father Allois was widely known for his unwavering commitment to his faith, his tireless service to the community and his humility,” adds the text published in the social networks of the diocese.

According to a local mediumThe National Police Service reported that six suspects of the murder have already been arrested.

“Officers of the General Services Unit responded quickly and established that Father Bett was approached and fatally injured by armed men. An investigation began immediately and six suspects were arrested and are now in custody,” says the police declaration.

The second priest in a week

On May 15, Fr. John Ndegwa Maina (43), pastor of the Church of San Luis in Iggo, died in a hospital after being found with serious head injuries on the head in a stretch of the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, several kilometers from his parish.

“The investigation is ongoing. Once the researchers have completed their work, they will shed light on the matter and answer the questions that we have all been asking during the past week,” he told the local faithful on May 22, the bishop of Nyahururu, Mons. Joseph Ndembu Mbatia, during the funeral of P. Maina.

Fides It indicates that, according to the first inquiries of the Criminal Investigation Directorate (DCI), the priest could have been the target of a group of criminals that demanded a part of the donation he received from the former Vice President Rigathi Gachagua during a religious ceremony on April 27.