On May 26, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat expressed sorrow over the death of Fr Allois Bett of St Mathias Mulumba Parish in Tot, who was killed by suspected bandits in Elgeyo Marakwet. This was four days after the killing that shocked the nation.

In his speech, Lagat, who addressed locals and leaders, outlined three things.

He thanked the locals who said they knew who killed Fr Bett, adding that the police were almost identifying the person who committed the act.

“We are almost getting to know the person, but the problem is where the person is, and you know very well, let’s not lie to one another, and help us. As police, we cannot do this alone, help us, tell us where these two, three people are,” he said.

Lagat noted that Fr Bett and the people of Tot will not get justice if the locals fail to surrender the criminals to the police. He asked them to identify the people involved and inform the police.

Lagat noted that the people of Tot have hardly had peace due to banditry. He noted that when he was the GSU Commandant, they deployed adequate security personnel and peace prevailed.

“Why do you agree to have two or three individuals disturb us. We are not going to allow these very few criminals to disturb us and to give us sleepless nights and to spend resources that can be used in other economic activities,” he added.

The killing of Fr Bett, he noted, will be a solution to the insecurity in the area.

The DIG also assured non-locals working in the area that the government will provide them with adequate security. Four days after his address on May 30, two men were abducted. Simon Yego, 45, and Collins Kipyatich, 22, were snatched on Friday in Tot. The search for the two ended tragically after their mutilated bodies were found in Mogotio.

The abduction of the two was linked to the ongoing security operation by investigating agencies following the killing of Fr Bett.

Families of the two identified their bodies at the Nakuru County Mortuary. At his abduction, Kipyatich’s brother, Evans Biwott, was seeking treatment at Tot Health Centre when unknown men seized him in full view of helpless residents.

At around 5:30pm, Yego, who owned a Toyota Probox which he operated as a matatu, was blocked by an ambulance a short distance from the same health center, with one passenger on board.

The passenger, a woman, was bundled into the ambulance, which was driven by men suspected to be plainclothes security officers, one of whom later drove Yego’s car.

“While on board the vehicle, Yego and his passenger were questioned about the killing of Fr Bett. The passenger, who is a local, told them she had no idea,” said Wilfred Yego, brother to the deceased. Along the way, Wilfred said that the ambulance stopped, and the woman was set free.

DIG Lagat is currently facing intense public scrutiny and calls for his suspension or arrest due to the death of a blogger, Albert Ojwang’, in police custody. 

In Tot, Lagat urged locals to surrender the criminals to the police for justice.

Residents fear that the police may be complicit in a death that occurred while the victim was in police custody, a concern that now undermines the very message of trust and cooperation the authorities once promoted.