Cleric Urges Government to Embrace Dialogue to End Kerio Valley Bloodshed

Amid persistent killings in the troubled Kerio Valley, a local Catholic priest is calling on the government and communities to abandon force and embrace dialogue as the only viable path to lasting peace.

Speaking while presiding a Sunday mass at Ndaraweta Catholic Parish, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Kimutai condemned the continued killings in the region, including the recent tragic murder of Tot Catholic Parish priest, Fr. Alois Cheruiyot Bett.

“The police have failed. Even the gun-wielding army has not brought peace,” said Fr. Kimutai. “It’s time we try something different. Let us sit down, talk to each other, and involve our communities—especially the youth—in finding solutions.”

Fr. Kimutai’s message struck a chord with many in the congregation, especially following the loss of a fellow priest in such a brutal and senseless manner.

He said the killing of Fr. Bett is a painful reminder of how deep-rooted the insecurity in Kerio Valley has become.

“For years, the government has played hide-and-seek while innocent people continue to die,” he lamented. “We cannot continue with business as usual. We must stop offering lip service and start real conversations.”

He challenged leaders from the region, particularly Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, to take personal responsibility for initiating peace efforts.

Murkomen, who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet, was urged to go beyond deploying security forces and instead convene meaningful dialogue with elders and local leaders.

“Murkomen should stop pretending and hiding behind the deployment of police. This is his home. He understands the pain our people are going through,” said Fr. Kimutai. “If he fails to act now, as a son of this land and a minister in charge of security, it would be deeply shameful.”

The priest also called on local elders to take an active role in healing the community. He urged them to perform traditional cleansing rituals in Kerio Valley, saying the land has been soaked with innocent blood for too long.

“The blood of our brothers and sisters may be crying out from the ground. We need spiritual and cultural healing. Let the elders cleanse the valley and lead peace talks. Only then can we begin to see real change,” he added.

Fr. Kimutai emphasized that young people, often lured into violence, must be engaged in these peace efforts. He believes that with proper guidance, support, and education, they can become champions of peace rather than perpetrators of conflict.

“The youth are not the problem—they are the solution. We must talk to them, not at them,” he said.

As Kerio Valley mourns yet another life lost, Fr. Kimutai's plea is a sobering reminder that the path to peace may not be paved with more guns, but with words, honesty, and the courage to listen.