No caskets at memorial for Ethiopian plane crash couple

A portrait of Ethiopia Airlines plane crash victims, Mercy Ngami Ndivo and her husband Jared Babu Mwazo, during a memorial service held on Friday, March 22 in Kadaya-Ngerenyi village, Mwatate Sub-County. [Renson Mnyamwezi, Standard]

Hundreds of mourners gathered for an emotional memorial service for a couple that died in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on March 10

Jared Babu Mwazo and Mercy Ngami Ndivo were flying back to the country after attending a graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom when the plane crashed.

The families of the two who were among 157 killed in the crash are yet to identify the bodies.

Portrait pictures

There were no caskets as grieving residents gathered before portrait pictures of the two surrounded by white and green flowers at Kidaya Ngerenyi village in Mwatate Sub-County on Friday last week.

Mwazo had travelled to London together with his wife, Mercy, to attend her graduation for a masters in professional accountancy.

Family and friends paid glowing tribute to the couple.

“This is a difficult moment for us. The two had a bright future and great plans. They were disciplined and respectful,” said Mwazo’s father, Joshua Babu.

He told mourners that the couple was upbeat as it headed home from the graduation before the crash.

“It is a big blow to the family,” he said.

Before his death Mwazo, a Strathmore School and University alumni worked at the Seaways Kenya Limited, a clearing and forwarding firm owned by the family where he was in charge of the insurance department.

Mercy, a first class honors accounting graduate from Strathmore University, worked at Pula Advisors as a senior accountant.

Speakers said the two were generous to a fault.

“Mercy had a big heart that embraced the needy and less fortunate. She often visited various children’s homes where she donated offered financial and material support,” said one mourner.

Workmates described the two as consummate professionals.

”They had great leadership skills and performed their duties with diligence. They had the ability to build networks both locally and internationally,” they said.

Leaders who attended the ceremony called for the formation of Mwazo and Mercy Memorial Fund in the couple's memory.