KENYA: Bishops Express Condolences following Tragic Ethiopian Airlines Plane Crash

NAIROBI, MARCH 15, 2019 (CISA)-The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has offered prayers for the victims and sympathy for families and friends of the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines plane crash in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

“We, the Catholic Bishops in Kenya, convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, the Nation of Kenya and the International Community following the tragic Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that claimed the lives of 157 occupants on Sunday, 10th, March, 2019,” the March 14 statement signed by the chairperson of KCCB Archbishop Phillip Anyolo said.

The bishops also urged the investigative authorities to speed up investigations, so as to establish the cause of the crash and help their families and friends to get closure.

“…we commend the Government of Kenya and Ethiopian Airlines for supporting the bereaved family members to fly their representatives to Addis Ababa to help with the identification process.
We urge the investigative agencies to speedily establish the cause of the accident in order to bring a closure for families who are still affected by the uncertainty surrounding the incident,” the statement said.

The bishops  also mourned the passing on of Rev. Fr. George Mukua Kageche of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, Rev. Sr. Florence Wangari of the Missionary Sisters of our Lady of the Angels, and four staff of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) who lost their lives in the tragic plane accident.

“We pray that God will comfort the hearts of all those affected by the loss and bring peace to their spirits during this difficult moment. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace,” the bishops said.