A leaked WhatsApp message believed to be the last communication from the late Father Allois Cheruiyot gives a heartbreaking glimpse into his final moments before he was brutally gunned down in Kerio Valley, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The message, widely shared on social media, shows the Catholic priest in good spirits as he spent time in the hills with members of the local Catholic community.
Photos shared by his friend, Erastus Mwenda, show the beloved clergyman sitting on a large rock, dressed in his trademark black priestly robe and grey trousers, leaning on a stick with a small black suitcase beside him — clearly indicating he had planned to stay and minister to the people.
Moments later, tragedy struck. The humble priest, who had devoted his life to serving the vulnerable and offering hope in one of the country’s most dangerous regions, was ambushed and fatally shot by unknown assailants.
His death has been widely condemned as a senseless act of violence against a man armed only with a Bible, rosary, and the word of God.
“Dear Kerio Valley, we gave you a priest armed only with a rosary, Bible, sacrament, holy water, and a passion to serve,” Mwenda mourned in a heartfelt Facebook tribute.
“You sent him back lifeless with bullet wounds and a stained rosary. Why?”
Photos also show the priest speaking with children, underlining his close connection with the community he served so diligently.
Authorities have since arrested six suspects linked to the murder, and the National Police Service continues its investigations.
