Kenyan bishops mourn deaths of two MPs

Nairobi, Kenya, Jun 11, 2008 / 23:44 pm

Catholic bishops joined other Kenyans in mourning the deaths of two cabinet members who, along with a security officer and a pilot, died when their light aircraft crashed in southwest Kenya on Tuesday afternoon.

Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones and Assistant Minister in the Office of the Vice President Lorna Laboso were killed en route to Kericho to oversee an election in Konoin Constituency on Wednesday. The Catholic Information Service for Africa reports that the constituency’s former Minister of Parliament was shot and killed earlier this year.

“We send our sincerest condolences to their families, their constituents, their colleagues and the Government of the Republic of Kenya”, the bishops said in a media statement signed by John Cardinal Njue, the Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.

“We are praying for the souls of the deceased and all those who have been left behind.

“As Kenya continues to nurture the path of peace and reconciliation, let’s take comfort in each other and remember that in times of sorrow and joy we remain a family," the bishops said.

Both officials were also Ministers of Parliament and members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which joined the Party of National Unity to form a governing coalition. Two other Kenyan MPs, also members of the ODM, have died since the nation’s controversial December 27 election.