Catholic church shuts down missionary operations in Kerio Valley after priest murder

The Catholic Church has shut down its missionary operations and stations in Kerio Valley, including the Chesongoch Mission Hospital, due to worsening insecurity in the region.

The hospital, with over 100 staff, has been the main health facility in the region, serving thousands of residents.A statement from the Missionary Benedictine Sisters issued an official notice on its decision to shut down the Kerio Valley mission due to insecurity.

The statement said that following the killing of Father Allois Bett by suspected bandits last week, there had been continued unrest in the region affecting its missionary work.“There has been high tension of insecurity causing mental, emotional, and psychological trauma to our sisters,” said the statement.

The statement said the mission was now unable to run essential services due to lack of staff who are fleeing from the area.“We have therefore arrived at the decision, with immediate effect, to close our mission stations indefinitely until the area is safe for service,” said the statement signed by Sister Rosa Pascal, who is head of the mission.She said the closure was meant to ensure the safety of sisters working in the region, employees, and those who visit the mission stations for various reasons.“It’s also meant to press the government for a lasting solution to peace in the area, including disarming civilians,” said Sister Pascal.

She said the move was to remind the people of Kerio Valley about the relevance of the mission to the community.

“If the community does not consider our mission as essential to them, then there is no need for our presence,” said the statement.

This comes over a week after the killing of Father Bett, who was serving at St. Mulumba Parish near Tot.He was returning from a Jumuiya mass when he was ambushed and shot dead by armed bandits.The murder sparked tensions and fear amid reports that the bandits were targeting non-locals.Father Bett will be buried on Tuesday at Ol Lessos Parish in Nandi County.