The quiet village of Cheplengu in Kapsabet, Nandi County, is in turmoil following the gruesome murder of an Anglican priest, Rev. James Kemei, who was fatally attacked by a Kenya Defence Forces officer. The violent incident occurred under shocking circumstances involving an alleged extramarital affair with the officer’s wife.
Rev. Kemei, 43, was reportedly involved in a clandestine relationship with the wife of the military officer, a relationship that was well-known among the local church community yet apparently unaddressed by church leaders. The situation escalated tragically when Rev. Kemei, unaware of the trap set by the aggrieved husband, visited the woman at her home in Kapsabet, where she served as a lay reader at St. Barnabas Church.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the soldier, having been informed of the ongoing affair, caught the pair in a compromising situation. In a fit of rage, he physically assaulted Rev. Kemei, resulting in the priest being castrated, and also inflicted severe injuries on his wife, including breaking her hand and driving nails into the spine of Rev. Kemei.
The provost of St. Barnabas Pro-Cathedral, Rev. Nillah Bassy, has been accused of failing to intervene or act upon the knowledge of the affair, despite its notoriety among the congregation. This lack of action has raised questions about the oversight and moral governance within the church’s leadership.
Rev. Kemei was initially rushed to Kapsabet Level 5 Hospital in a critical condition and later transferred to Eldoret Top Hill Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The aftermath of the incident left the wife in hiding, and there are concerns about her mental health, with fears that she may be contemplating suicide.
This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the community and the Anglican Church, prompting introspection regarding the handling of personal conduct by religious leaders. The local bishop of Kapsabet, Paul Korir, faces the challenge of addressing the fallout and restoring trust within the shaken community.
Rev. Kemei’s family, from Simat in the Uasin Gishu area, is reportedly in shock, grappling with the violent manner of his death and the scandalous revelations about his personal life. The incident highlights critical issues of morality, accountability, and the profound impact of personal decisions on the lives of individuals and their communities.
