Elderly woman lifts Bible, wails in agony after Catholic Father Alois Bett is shot dead in Kerio Valley

Tot Village in Elgeyo Marakwet County has been engulfed in sorrow following the brutal killing of Father Alloys Cheruiyot Bett.

The humble and peace-loving Catholic priest's life was abruptly ended by unknown gunmen on May 22, 2025, while on pastoral duties in Kerio Valley.

In heart-wrenching videos that have circulated widely online, an elderly woman is seen clutching her Bible, wailing in disbelief. Her grief mirrors that of an entire community shaken by the sudden loss of a man they regarded not only as a priest but also as a beacon of peace, hope, and service.

Father Bett was returning to Tot Parish after leading a Jumuiya (community) mass near Kapkein Primary School in Kerio Valley when he was ambushed.

Witnesses say the assailants fired a single fatal shot. His lifeless body, still clad in his black priestly robes, was later discovered in a bush.

The sight of him dressed in his sacred attire at the time of death left the faithful deeply shaken; many viewed it as a symbolic attack on the church itself, not just an individual.

Residents and the clergy struggled to contain their emotions during vigils, while nuns and congregants clutched their rosaries and Bibles, sobbing openly.

They spoke of a man who had dedicated his life to spiritual service and peaceful community building in a region often plagued by insecurity and poverty.

Tributes poured in from across the country. Online, many remembered Father Alloys as a gentle soul committed to non-violence and the upliftment of the needy.

Paul Mwangi wrote, "Looks like he had identified the root causes of banditry, poverty, corruption, and lack of humanity. He wanted to disarm the bandits peacefully, without police brutality. So sad that he met his death before achieving this. A wake-up call to address the issue. May heaven be his new home."

Another mourner, Emanuel Wekesa, prayed, "Rest in peace, man of God. Raha ya milele umpe mtumishi wako ee Bwana, na mwanga wa milele umwangazie. Apumzike kwa amani, Amina."

Kipsang Langat, visibly enraged, demanded justice: "Let the killers perish publicly… This man of God was genuine and sacrificial; he used to trek long distances preaching peace for free."

Father Bett's killing comes only days after another priest, John Ndegwa Maina of Igwamiti Parish in Nyahururu Diocese, was laid to rest under similarly mysterious circumstances, raising fears and questions within the Catholic Church in Kenya