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 Asia 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.

Chege was directing CARE USA’s programs in East and Central Africa as a 25-year veteral of CARE.

On the same Saturday, another two US women and an employee of an international aid organization were also shot dead in two separate incidents in and around Nairobi.

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 US embassy has declined to comment on the incident.

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.

He was the man called Darfur first as the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis. ’And I don’t know why the world isn’t doing more about it; one could say the same today’, Chege told it one year ago the UN Representative told the BBC, ”Just as the international community came together to support that effort, it should provide sufficient engagement, political will and resources to ensure a just and lasting peace throughout the country. Members of the UN Security Council, heads of state and elected officials, and non-governmental organisations need to keep the spotlight on Darfur, with a concerted, consistent approach to ending the crisis.”

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 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. Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries said.

Read this news at the original site: http://salemvoice.org/news131.html

Salem Voice Ministries,

Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,

Kerala-686038, India.