August 3, 2012

A requiem mass in honour of the late Ms. Olga Fonseca Jimenez was held today at the Consolata Shrine Catholic church in Nairobi. Ms. Olga Fonseca Jimenez was the chargé d’ affaires at the embassy of Venezuela in Kenya.

Ms. Jimenez was found dead on the morning of Friday 27 July, 2012 at the official residence of the ambassador of Venezuela where she was residing. Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the death.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thuita Mwangi and Head of Americas Directorate Florence Weche were among the government officials who attended the requiem mass.

Speaking at the end of the mass, the Permanent Secretary said the Ministry received with shock the news of the death of Ms. Olga Fonseca Jimenez, terming it as ‘untimely and a sad moment for Government of Kenya and the entire diplomatic community in Kenya’’.

Mwangi noted the zeal and dedication with which Ms Jimenez had assumed her duties at the embassy with a promise to boost the ties between the two countries. Indeed, in the short span of two weeks in the country, she had already paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and held discussions with officials from the Americas directorate in the Ministry.

In his remarks, the PS further said ‘’The Government and the people of Kenya therefore mourn together with the people of Venezuela at this sad loss. I would like, on behalf of the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Prof. Sam Ongeri who could not be here with us today, the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Kenya, to convey our deepest condolences to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the staff of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the family and friends of Ms Fonseca Jimenez.’’

Commenting on the progress of the investigations, the PS said: ‘’I have personally spoken to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions this morning, and they have assured me that the matter is being treated as top priority with a view to prosecuting the culprits as soon as possible’’. Mwangi further assured the members of the diplomatic corps of their safety and security in Kenya.