Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has disclosed that Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett, a Catholic priest from St. Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish, could have been caught up in a retaliatory attack.

Speaking in Nandi South on Saturday, May 24, 2025, Murkomen revealed that security officers gunned down a bandit commander in a fierce battle weeks before Father Allois’ shooting incident.

According to Murkomen, the commander was responsible for supplying the bandits with rifles and ammunition.

Angered by the operation, the remaining bandits planned a retaliatory attack targeting villages, and Murkomen indicated that it was during the attack that Father Allois was shot dead.

He further revealed that most of the bandits were barely 20 years old.

“Wale watu wanatuhangaisha ni wa miaka kumi na sita, kumi na saba, kumi na nane, kumi na tisa na wa miaka ishirini. By 21, wanajiita commander. Mliona vile walifanyia father, kitu ambayo haijawai fanyika tangu, (Those people disturbing us are from 16 to 20 years old. Those who hit 21 call themselves commanders. You saw what they did to Father, something that has never happened in this country),” Murkomen revealed.

“Kwa sababu juzi, wiki moja iliyopita tuliweka pressure tukashika wengine, wengine wakapigana na polisi wakapoteza maisha hata mwenye walikuwa wanaita commander wao, akapoteza maisha yake. Wale kidogo walikuwa wanategemea yeye kwa sababu ni yeye ndio alikuwa analeta bunduki, anauza risasi, ndio polisi wakapigana na yeye akafariki sasa wale walipigwa wamekasirika wanazunguka hapo hapo kwa villages,( A week ago we put them under intense pressure where we arrested some and others lost their lives while fighting with the police even one who calls himself a commander was killed. The other ones depended on him to bring guns and ammunition. Police fought with him, and he was killed, which angered the rest who are now moving in the villages),” he added.

No negotiating with bandits

While giving a preliminary report on what transpired, Murkomen revealed that bandits were focused on forcing the government to the negotiating table.

He, however, made it clear that the government will never negotiate with bandits. He made it clear that they either surrender their guns or face the full wrath of the law.

“Wale walifanya hivo wanasema, tukiuwa watu kama Father Allois ati serikali itakuja meza kunegotiate na hawa bila kutoa bunduki kwao (those who did that are saying that if they kill people like Father Allois, the government will negotiate without them surrendering their guns),” Murkomen detailed.

“I want to tell them to their face, we will negotiate with no bandit; you either surrender your gun or we will still come for you. No amount of intimidation is going to stop us from going for them.”

NPS report

The National Police Service (NPS) on Thursday, May 22, 2025, said Father Allois was ambushed and fatally shot in Mokoro Location, Kakiptul Sub-Location.

His attackers reportedly fled the scene immediately after the incident, prompting an urgent manhunt by General Service Unit (GSU) officers.

NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said six persons of interest were arrested in connection with the murder, further clarifying that the killing was not linked to cattle rustling or the rampant banditry that has plagued parts of the North Rift reg