Kenya’s high commissioner to Nigeria slumps, dies in Abuja

Kenya’s high commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, has slumped and died in Abuja.

Machage, 65, was said to have collapsed in his Abuja residence on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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Kenya’s ministry of foreign affairs has released a statement announcing Machage’s demise.

The statement reads: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets to announce the sudden death of Hon Dr. Ambassador Wilfred Machage, Kenya High Commissioner to Nigeria, which occurred today [Saturday].

“Ambassador Machage collapsed at home and was pronounced dead at [the] hospital shortly thereafter at around 12.30pm this [Saturday] afternoon in Abuja, Nigeria. His wife was with him when this unfortunate incident happened.”

Sospeter Magita, his twin brother who is a former Kenya ambassador to Russia, told The Standard that he died after eating lunch.

“It is a very sad moment that I have today lost my best friend and confidant,” the statement read.

The late high commissioner’s wife was said to have been with him when he collapsed.

He was a Senator in Kenyan parliament between 2013 and 2017 before being appointed as high commissioner to Nigeria in January 2018.