Senators call for formation of Commission of Inquiry over killing of Catholic Fathers

The casket and portrait of Nyahururu Catholic Priest Fr John Maina on May 22, 2025. [File Courtesy] Senators have called for the formation of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the killings of Catholic priests in the country following the recent deaths of Father Allois Bett and Father John Maina. The Senators have blamed President William Ruto's government for remaining silent over the murder of the clergy by suspected bandits in various parts of the country, yet they are out to promote peace. Senate Chief Whip Boni Khalwale said the increased cases of the murder of Catholic priests are alarming and that there is a need for a Commission of Inquiry to be established to look into why the killings happened. "The deaths of Father Bett and Father Maina in 2025, Father John Njoroge in 2018, Father Evans Oduor in 2017, Father Michael Siendo in 2019, Father Eutychus Muthuri of Meru in 2019, Father Martin Macharia in 2003, Bishop Luigi Locati in 2005, and Father John Kaiser in 2000 call for the establishment of a commission of inquiry," said Khalwale. The Senate Chief Whip said that apart from Bishop Locati, where investigations were done and a priest was arrested, convicted, and is now serving a jail term, other cases have not been concluded, raising questions as to why this is happening. Khalwale said it cannot be by chance that whenever priests are murdered, a theory is circulated in the media suggesting they committed suicide, insisting that, as a Catholic born and bred in a Catholic family, he wanted nothing short of an inquiry to establish the truth. Father Bett from St Matthias Lumumba Catholic Church in Tot Parish in Elgeyo Marakwet County, but hailed from Kilibwoni in Nandi County, was ambushed and shot dead on May 22, 2025, just concluding a Jumuia Mass at Kabien Village and was headed back to his base in Tot Parish. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the Catholic church has endured traumatic experiences over the past 20 years, complaining that just days before the recent killing of Father Bett, Father Maina of Igwamiti Parish in Nyahururu was found murdered with multiple wounds on his body. "The most disturbing thing is that no arrests have been made following the recent killing of the two priests. The public is keenly observing how security forces handle individual cases. At times, it seems that when a prominent person is involved, investigations are expedited and action is taken swiftly," said Sifuna. Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot wondered why it was difficult to take action and bring the perpetrators to book, yet the name of Father Bett's killer is known, since the individual responsible is a criminal named Cheptarus, with locals having said they know who committed this crime. Cheruiyot raised concerns as to why there is no urgency to investigate the killing, as is applied when a senior person is involved, and there was a need to see that level of speed, seriousness, and commitment in investigating Father Allois and Father Maina's murders. The Majority Leader told the House that in the past few months, there have been several reports of killings, so much so that the country seems to have grown accustomed to them, treating them as just another piece of news, which is very worrying among right-thinking Kenyans. "We are calling for the gazettement of Kerio Valley as a disturbed zone and deployment of the best forces, so that area residents can sleep peacefully in their homes. Let this be the last Kenyan life lost in such circumstances. It is not right that we live in a country where some people cannot sleep peacefully in their homes and children are unable to attend school," said Cheruiyot. Senators tasked the Senate committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting to death of the unarmed priest who was in the company of other people who were unhurt during the incident, including details of the motive behind his murder and the status of investigations. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei asked the committee to provide reasons as to why the police, up to date, are yet to arrest any person involved in the murder of the Priest, despite an ongoing operation in the area to flush out bandits from their hideout, despite earlier promises. Senator Cherargei observed that the state of security in the general North Rift regions has deteriorated due to sluggish and ineffective response by both the National Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces once bandits attack. "In the past few days, the region has witnessed a rise in cases of insecurity, leading to deaths and loss of property, particularly in Baringo, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, and Samburu," said Cherargei.

Senators call for formation of Commission of Inquiry over killing of Catholic Fathers

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