Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Wilfred Machage Dies in Abuja

Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr. Wilfred Machage has died after a short illness.

Machage, 65, collapsed at his home in Abuja on Saturday and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival in the presence of his wife, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Confirming his demise, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Amb. Macharia Kamau said the country has lost a dedicated and committed leader.

Dr. Machage was appointed as Kenya’s high commissioner to Nigeria by President Kenyatta in January 2018, having unsuccessfully defended his Migori county senatorial seat in the 2017 general elections.

As the Head of Kenya’s Mission in Abuja, Dr. Machage was also accredited to 11 other countries in Central and West Africa including Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, and Niger.

The deceased first ventured into politics in 2002 and was elected as the MP for Kuria Constituency, serving until 2013 when he won the Migori senator’s seat.