The first Jesuit of Kenyan nationality was killed in South Sudan, Fides News Agency reported. Victor Luke Odhiambo was shot and killed on the night of November 14 by a group of armed men who attacked the Jesuit community of Cueibet, in the state of Gok. The other three members of the community remained unharmed.
As reported by Zenit, According to the Minister of Information of the State of Gok, John Madol, one of the alleged assailants was arrested. “The state government of Gok has declared 3 days of mourning. Everyone stays at home as we mourn the priest”, said the Minister of Information. Fr. Odhiambo was the first Kenyan to become a Jesuit. Born on January 20, 1956, he entered the Society of Jesus (SJ) on July 4, 1978. He was ordained a priest on August 22, 1987, and professed his final vows on May 30, 1993. In South Sudan Fr. Odhiambo was the Principal of Mazzolari Teachers’ College (MTC) and Vice-Superior of the community of Cuibet from 30 January 2017.
Fr. Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus emphasized that “Father Victor Luke Odhiambo leaves a name, not only in South Sudan as the first Jesuit to die at the service of its people, but in the whole of Eastern Africa as a teacher of thousands of students in the Starehe Boys Centre in Nairobi-Kenya and in Loyola High School in Dar Es Salaam-Tanzania.
Source: Zenit
