Catholic Church Shuts Down Kerio Valley Mission After Priest’s Killing: "Trauma to Our Sisters"

• The Catholic Church suspended all mission operations in Kerio Valley following the killing of Father Allois Bett, who was shot dead by gunmen after a community mass
• Benedictine Sisters cited mental trauma, unrelenting insecurity, and a mass staff exodus as reasons for the closure
• The Church framed the shutdown as both a safety measure and a form of protest, urging the government to disarm civilians and restore order
• In a pointed message, the sisters asked the Kerio Valley community to reflect on whether they value the Church’s presence

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

The Catholic Church has officially closed its mission operations in Kerio Valley following the brutal killing of Father Allois Bett, the parish priest of St. Mathias Mulumba, Tot Parish.

In a sobering turn of events that has rocked the local faithful and cast a harsh light on the region's worsening insecurity, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters announced the indefinite suspension of all missionary activities effective Friday, May 30, 2025.

Father Bett, a respected and beloved figure in the region, was ambushed and shot dead by gunmen earlier this month.

He had just concluded a Jumuiya (small Christian community) mass and was travelling back to Tot Parish when attackers struck.

When will Catholic mission leave Kerio Valley

In an official statement signed by Sister Rosa Pascal, the Prioress of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, the Church laid bare the scale of emotional and operational devastation inflicted by the cycle of violence.

"High tension of insecurity causing mental, emotional and psychological trauma to our sisters. We have therefore arrived at a decision with immediate effect (30/05/2025) to close our mission stations indefinitely until the area is safe for service," read part of the statement seen by TUKO.co.ke.

The shutdown affects several critical operations in the region, including the Chesongoch Mission Hospital, the only well-equipped health facility in the troubled valley.

With reportedly at least 100 staff members and decades of service, the hospital has been a lifeline for many, offering medical aid in an otherwise volatile area.

The statement cited two primary reasons for the closure: the mental trauma inflicted by the unrelenting insecurity, and a staffing crisis caused by a mass exodus of workers fleeing the area for their safety.

Why is the Catholic church pulling out of Kerio Valley

Beyond internal safety concerns, the Church is using its withdrawal as a form of protest and a plea for urgent government action.

The sisters are demanding that authorities intervene decisively to disarm civilians and restore peace, or risk the permanent withdrawal from the region.

"Our action is meant to press the government for a lasting solution to peace in the area, including disarming the civilians," the church explained.

But perhaps the most piercing part of the message is a quiet challenge directed at the local community itself.

"Remind the people of Kerio Valley the relevance of our presence to the community. If the community does not consider our mission as essential to them, then there is no need of our presence," concluded the statement.

Why was Father Bett killed

As TUKO.co.ke reported, local residents suspect the attack on Father Bett was linked to his alleged cooperation with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in anti-banditry efforts.

Reports indicate that individuals believed to be DCI officers visited Bett’s residence on May 16 and 17, though he was away at the time.

The visits reportedly fueled suspicions among local criminal elements that Bett was acting as an informer.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke