Funeral service for Fr Bett underway at Terige High school in Nandi

The funeral service for slain Catholic priest Allois Cheruiyot Bett is underway in Nandi County.

The service is being held at Terige High School, where thousands of people have turned up to bid farewell to the priest.

Fr Bett was shot dead by bandits in Kerio Valley two weeks ago. Religious and political leaders are in attendance.

Several catholic church bishops, led by Dominic Kimengich, are also present.

Governors Stephen Sang of Nandi, Wisley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet, along with Senators Jackson Mandago, Samson Cherargei and William Kisang of Elgeyo Marakwet are also present.

The family led by his mother Eunice Bender, are also present.

The priest will later be buried at the Holly Family Parish Ol’ Lessos cemetery, which is near his parent’s home.

During a requiem mass in Eldoret on Monda,y the family of Bett said they have forgiven those who shot him dead in Kerio Valley and hope his blood will cause lasting peace in the region.

Family members attended the requiem mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Eldoret that was led by Bishop Kimemgich.

Family spokesman Amos Samoei said they have forgiven the killers as a way to allow a smooth send-off for father Bett, who was laid to rest in Nandi County.

The family protested over the delay in arresting the killers of their son.

Samoei said the family had many questions about the death, but two days ago they decided to forgive the killers and let their son’s blood pour in Kerio Valley to shower the region with lasting peace and unity.

He, however, questioned why security agencies took just three days to arrest the killers of an MP who was killed in Nairobi recently, but had failed to arrest Fr Bett’s killers.

Bett was attacked by armed men as he returned from a Jumuiya mass at a village about two kilometres from the church.

His murder sparked wide condemnation on one side and tension and fear in Kerio Valley on the other side.

Tension persists in the region. At least 100 health workers, including nurses and clinical officers, have withdrawn after the Catholic Church shut down its missionary operations and stations in the region, including the Chesongoch Mission Hospital, due to worsening insecurity in the region.