“One of the murdered women is Lois Anderson, a former Presbyterian Church (USA) Missionary in Africa and another is her daughter Zelda White,” said the story.

“Zelda White lived with her husband in Kenya, and the Andersons had traveled to the east Africa nation from their South Carolina home for a family gathering.

According to the police, the suspected killers of the US women, who were traveling in a car with diplomatic license plates, were 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 traveling in the vehicle, which was then towed to the US embassy”, Police authorities told the SVM News Service.

Doug Welch, the PC (USA)’s area coordinator for Africa said, “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.”

The US embassy has declined to comment on the incident.

Geoffrey Chege, 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.”

Denis Caillaux, CARE International Secretary General, said, “Geoffrey was a warm, engaging man, passionate about his commitment to the poor and vulnerable and thoroughly loyal to CARE and its mission,” said. “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,” said Paul Barker, the National Director of CARE in Sudan.

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 attaché were wounded and robbed in three separate incidents.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, Director of Salem Voice Ministries that that his group, which is doing charitable and Gospel services in Africa, Asia and Middle East, “strongly condemns the murder of Geoffrey Chege and the women aid workers.”

Ciniraj went on to say, “Any kind of torturing to the humanitarian aid workers must be condemned; for they are angels of earth to the poor and helpless.”