SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES News Service (SVM News),
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam, Kerala-686038, INDIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CARE Regional Director and two US Aid Workers Killed in Nairobi
Nairobi (Kenya), SVM News, 30 January, 2007: Geoffrey Chege, 57, the regional director of aid agency CARE International for East and Central Africa was shot dead on Saturday night, the 27th January in a most upscale suburbs of Nairobi during a carjacking attempt. He was returning from a prayer meeting with his wife, who was not hurt.
Geoffrey Chege
Chege was directing CARE USA's programs in East and Central Africa as a 25-year veteran of CARE.
On the same Saturday, another two US women missionaries of Presbyterian Church (USA) and an employee of an international aid organization were also shot dead in a village just a few miles outside the capital city of Nairobi.
One of the murdered woman is Mama Lois Anderson, 79, a former Presbyterian Church (USA) Missionary in Africa and another is her daughter Zelda White of 52 years old.
Mrs. Anderson was a native of Beaver and both were graduates of Geneva College. Her husband and Zelda's father, Rev. William Anderson, who also was in the car, survived the attack, along with two other people. Rev. Anderson is a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a onetime minister in Beaver.
Zelda White was in Seminary in Kenya, where her husband works at US Embassy. Lois and Bill Anderson had traveled to the east Africa nation from their South Carolina home for a family gathering.
According to an e-mail from their daughter Sylvia, a witness, the Andersons, their two daughters and Sylvia's teenage son were in a U.S. Embassy vehicle near Nairobi, waiting on the roadside for a friend. A car pulled up and gunmen jumped out firing AK-47s.
Those in the back seat escaped, including Mr. Anderson, but the two women died at the scene.
According to the police, the suspected killers of the US women, who were travelling in a car with diplomatic license plates, allegedly shot dead by police later. On Saturday around 20 km west of Nairobi, these two US women were stopped by carjackers bearing rifles. "At least one woman was shot because she took too long to leave the car. Five people were travelling in the vehicle, which was then towed to the US embassy", Police authorities said to the SVM News Service.
"The Andersons served as PC (USA) missionaries for more than four decades in Sudan and Kenya. They are known across east Africa for their decades of service to the church, especially in the area of theological education," Doug Welch, the PC (USA)'s area coordinator for Africa.said.
The Andersons were popular speakers at the annual New Wilmington Mission Conference at Westminster College.
CARE leader, Geoffrey Chege is a native of Nairobi, began working for CARE in 1983 as a project manager for Primary Education and Youth Polytechnics. Over the years, he held various positions at CARE in Kenya, Egypt, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, where he was country director. He became regional director, based in Nairobi, in the summer of 2003.
He leaves his wife and three daughters.
"We are deeply saddened and stunned by this senseless death," CARE President and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle said. "No one was more committed than Geoffrey to uplifting the poor and vulnerable; no one was a greater champion for women's equality. Everyone who knew Geoffrey held him in the highest regard. The CARE family sends our heartfelt condolences to Geoffrey's wife and daughters and to his extended family."
"Geoffrey was a warm, engaging man, passionate about his commitment to the poor and vulnerable and thoroughly loyal to CARE and its mission," said Denis Caillaux, CARE International Secretary General. "With his intelligence and talent, he could have succeeded in any other professional field, but decided to remain true to his lifelong ideal. In his soul, Geoffrey was a teacher, an educator. His way was to convene and to convince; always open to listen and to find common ground. CARE has lost a great leader." Caillaux added.
"Perhaps I shall remember him best as a proponent of gender equity and equality. As the father of three daughters he was most sensitive to the injustices that most cultures heap on women and girls. …As we struggle to bring dignity and hope for a better tomorrow to the world's downtrodden, Chege's life and sacrifices help me remember what our work means." Paul Barker, the National Director of CARE in Sudan said.
Nairobi has gained a reputation for theft and carjackings, which often turn violent.
Last year saw a wave of attacks on foreign diplomats. Between July and September, the Russian ambassador, a Danish diplomat and a US military attache were wounded and robbed in three separate incidents.
Salem Voice Ministries, which is doing charitable and Gospel services in Africa, Asia and Middle East strongly condemned the murder of Geoffrey Chege and the US women aid workers. Any kind of torturing to the humanitarian aid workers must be condemned; for they are angels of earth to the poor and helpless. Certainly the poverty, contageous diseases and violence are not spreading to the world because of their sincere and innocent services and prayers. Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries said.
