Kenya: hopes grow for release of kidnapped nuns
Hopes are growing for the release of two kidnapped missionary nuns, following meetings between an Italian delegation and Kenyan and Somali authorities.
Sisters Maria Teresa Olivero and Caterina Giraudo from the Charles de Foucauld contemplative movement in Cuneo, were kidnapped on 9 November in El Wak, in northern Kenya. It is now known that they were taken to Somalia. The Kenyan minister for internal security, George Saitoti has told an Italian delegation, led by MP Margherita Boniver, that he was ready to "do everything possible" to ensure the liberation of the sisters.
The Italian minister of foreign affairs, Franco Frattini, said he has received word that the two nuns "are well", that they are in Somalia, and that the Kenyan and Somali governments are making a great effort to resolve the situation.
Yesterday in Rome, a photo of the two missionaries was put on display at the Capitol building: "with this initiative we want to launch an appeal to express the closeness and solidarity of the city of Rome with the two nuns" said Mayor Alemanno.
Ms Boniver is planning to meet president Kibaki, the prime minister of the Somali transition government, Nur Hassan Hussein and the interim president Shek Aden Madobe. Missonary News Service sources said they are following the two nuns' ordeal and that they have reason to be optimistic in these developments.
Source: MISNA