Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Wilfred Machage is dead

Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Gisuka Machage collapsed in his home in Abuja shortly after he took lunch and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Sources in the Kenyan Embassy confirmed the death of 65-year-old High Commissioner.

But said the cause of his death cannot be confirmed, until a postmortem is done on his body.

The Standard of Kenya quoted Machage’s twin brother, Sospeter Magita as confirming the death of the High Commissioner in Nigeria.

Magita who is also a former Kenya Ambassador to Russia added that his brother enjoyed relatively good health. “It is a very sad moment that I have today lost my best friend and confidant,” he said.

The 65-year-old was appointed as ambassador by President Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2018.

He was also lawmaker before he was appointed as an Ambassador.

He also served as East African Community Affairs docket as Cabinet minister and assistant minister of Home Affairs in the office of the Vice President before he was deployed to Nigeria, according to The Standard of Kenya.

Machage, had in July last year denied claim that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested in Kenya and deported to Nigeria.

This followed claim by Kingsley Kanu, brother of the separatist leader that his brother was arrested in Kenya.

But speaking at a press conference the Kenyan high commissioner said the allegation was concocted by those who want to pitch Nigerians against the Kenyan people.

He said, “I want to address the allegation by denying that Kenya was involved in the alleged arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria of Mr Kanu,” Machage said.

“The allegation is fictional, imaginary and deliberately concocted to fuel antagonistic feeling amongst the southern section of the Nigerian people against the Kenya people.

“Indeed many countries have been accused — Rwanda, Czech Republic, Britain, Ethiopia — and God knows which other countries.

“I want to challenge anyone with facts relating to this alleged arrest in Kenya to present this fact. This will include how and who was particularly involved in the alleged arrest.

“Nigeria is a sovereign country. It’s your country. Instead of facing the Kenyan high commission in Nigeria to ask some of these questions, you should face your government.

“The government of Nigeria knows how they arrested him. They have the answers, not me.”