An order of Benedictine sisters has been forced to stop operations within the Kerio Valley, Kenya, as a consequence of mounting violence that recently saw the deaths of two parish priests.
The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart Priory said that their facilities would close “indefinitely” and “with immediate effect”.
The announcement of the closure specifically referenced the issue of violence and the murder of Father Alloyce Bett.
Father Bett was shot by bandits on 22 May. Just one week earlier one other parish priest, Father John Maina, died in hospital after being found on a highway in a critical condition. It is believed he was poisoned.
At his funeral, Father Bett was described as a person who had dedicated his life to God and to his people. His death, it was said, was an awesome loss to each the church and the local people, Fides news agency reports.
The Archbishop of Kisumu and President of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Maurice Muhatia Makumba, have demanded an inquiry into the deaths and called upon the federal government to do more to guard not only Catholic priests, but all Kenyans, from the specter of violence.
The deaths and the continued threat of violence have had a profound effect on the world. Sister Rosa Pascal OSB, the Prioress of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, said that the killings had taken an enormous mental, psychological and emotional toll on the sisters.
The order, she said, was now not in a position to offer its services as many members of staff had fled the world in fear for his or her lives.
Political figures in Kenya have also called for more to be done to guard people in the world. Boni Khalwale, a senator from Kakamega, said that the killings were “constant” and will now not be ignored.
“The Catholic Church has endured traumatic experiences for over 20 years, and the silence of the authorities following these attacks is deeply disturbing. Citizens are closely monitoring how the safety forces are handling each case,” he said, in accordance with Fides.
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