The Missionary Benedictine Sisters have announced the indefinite closure of their mission in Kerio Valley, citing escalating insecurity and continued unrest in the region.

The mission, based at Sacred Heart Priory in Karen, Nairobi, stated that its operations were no longer sustainable due to deteriorating security conditions and the emotional toll it had taken on the sisters and the staff.

In a letter dated Friday, May 30, Sr. Rosa Pascal OSB, the prioress of the mission said the situation had deteriorated following the killing of Father Alloys Bett, the parish priest of St. Mathias Mulumba, Tot Parish.

“Unrest has continued being experienced in that area. This has affected our missionary work as follows; high tension of insecurity causing mental, emotional and psychological trauma to our sisters, and inability to run the essential services due to lack of staff who are fleeing the area,” Sr Rosa stated.

Effective immediately from Friday, May 30, the sisters have withdrawn from the region and placed the mission on hold until the area is deemed as safe for service.

The letter stated that their action is meant to: Ensure safety of sisters working on the region their employees and those who visit their mission for different services, as well as to press the government for a lasting solution to peace in the area including disarming the civilians.

The Sisters also say that the move will remind the people of Kerio Valley the relevance of “our presence to the community.”

Sr. Rosa concluded that if the community does not consider their mission essential, their presence, therefore, is unnecessary.