Death deals terrible blow to a family in Taita

Jared Babu Mwazo who died together with his wife, Mercy, in Sunday morning's Ethiopian Airlines crash. [Photo, Courtesy]

Jared Babu Mwazo, 32, and his wife Mercy were in a jovial mood when they left for Nairobi from the United Kingdom, where they had attended her graduation ceremony.

Little did they know that their journey back home would be abruptly cut short when the Ethiopian Airlines plane came crashing down, killing all 157 passengers on board.

The two had been constantly communicating with family members from the time they left the UK for home. Back in Nairobi, relatives awaited their arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Their parents and their one-and-half-year-old daughter were waiting to receive them at the airport at 10.30am only to get news of the crash.

According to relatives, the two had left their daughter with their parents in Nairobi to attend the ceremony where Mwazo’s wife graduated with a masters’ degree in accounting.

The happy couple had taken a connecting flight after landing in Ethiopia on a different flight. They were returning home to celebrate with the rest of the family.

Their death has left their families stunned.

“It is a big blow to the family. The two were young and happy,” said Dickson Babu, a cousin to the man.

Grief stricken

At Ngerenyi village near the Taita-Taveta University, Ngerenyi Campus, hundreds of villagers thronged Mwazo’s home in droves to condole with the family.

The grief-stricken villagers were yesterday still trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

“God has taken the life of the young couple at an early stage. We are not questioning why God has done this. We will continue praying to God to give us strength and courage to withstand the loss,” said Babu.

Before his death, Mwazo worked at the Seaways Kenya Limited, a clearing and forwarding firm owned by the family. Now the family can only wait and hope that they will get his body for burial.