Ethiopian Airlines crash: Tributes as couple perish on their way back home to their young daughter

Tributes continue to pour in for a young couple whose lives came to a tragic end on Sunday when the Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed barely six minutes after take off.

According to friends and family members who spoke to Citizen Digital, Jared Babu Mwazo and his wife Mercy Ngami were travelling back to Kenya from the United Kingdom – via Ethiopia – where Mercy had just graduated.

The two now leave behind a young 15-month-old baby as their grieving families also await information on what actually caused the crash that took away their loved ones.

In the meantime, friends have taken to social media to mourn the deceased lovebirds; painting a picture of a high-achieving perfect family and an almost always jovial couple.

Jared, a Makini Schools alumni, was reportedly a Commonwealth Youth Council national delegate from Kenya.

He was also a Director at ‘You and I Kenya’; a social enterprise that aims to develop leadership capacity among the youth starting from high school to university and into the workforce.

One of his perceived best friends and colleague at the enterprise, Simon Kioko, took to Instagram to say: “I have been hoping that this is just a bad dream. We loved you brother. You and Mercy shall always be in our hearts and minds. We shall meet again. It is well.”

“I had the privilege of living with Mercy and Jared for a while and I have never felt at home like I did during this period. You are the most hospitable family I have met. You hosted AIESEC leaders, generation after generation,” added Simon.

He further added that Jared “was not only a brother and friend but also an amazing business mentor. Always by my side in every partnership meeting. We choose to celebrate you.”

Below are other tributes from social media users that knew the two:

My condolences to the families and loved ones of all the victims — incl. our own Commonwealth family members and particularly our @Official_CYC Nat’l delegate from Kenya, Jared Babu & his wife — who lost their lives in this plane crash in Ethiopia. #Restinpower @ @UN @ComSecYouth pic.twitter.com/y0A37WYNCm

— Tijani R. Christian, Esq (@TijaniChristian) March 11, 2019

https://twitter.com/MandlaNyindodo/status/1104938359770832896

The Ethiopian Airline crash has claimed the lives of many including young Kenyan and Commonwealth leader Mwanzo Jared Babu. A well respected young leader.

My deepest sympathies to the families of those who died in this disaster.

— Sujae H. Boswell (@SujaeBoswell) March 10, 2019

RIP Jared Babu. You were a great human being. You will be missed.

— Cheekily Chic (@CheekilyChic) March 10, 2019

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jared Babu – Alumni Class of 2004 who was a victim of Ethiopian Airlines: Boeing 737 Max-8 crash. Rest in peace Jared. https://t.co/cAY8yRUMbZ

— Makini Schools (@Makini_Schools) March 11, 2019

https://twitter.com/jakeytae/status/1105058799981944832

#RIP to a friend and @StrathU #Alumni Jared Babu and your wife. You were a good man. Boeing 737 MAX 8 #ET302

— Stone (@Kastonious) March 11, 2019

https://twitter.com/youandI254/status/1104988041897099264

Jared Babu & Mercy Ndivo It is sad that we lost you. The Strathmore Alumni mourns you. We worked with Jared so closely in the The Strathmore Student Council,… https://t.co/qqY9qUGxqm

— Duncan Mochama (@dannyasimi) March 11, 2019

unfortunate that Jared Babu
was on the flight, thank you for the very lovely
AIESEC memories and experiences between
2010 & 2011. You were an
inspiration to many, and may your legacy
live on. #ET302 ( strathmore alumni )

— Joyce Ndanu (@joy_danu) March 11, 2019

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu2_XoAAVQW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu3DmktgNMy/