Sombre mood at JKIA as Ambassador Paddy Ahenda’s body arrives

A sombre mood engulfed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Sunday morning as the body of State of Qatar Ambassador Hon Paddy Ahenda arrived from Qatar.

The body of the late Paddy Ahenda was received by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb Raychelle Omamo, family members and friends at the airport.

The late Ambassador to Qatar passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital in Doha.

The President eulogised the envoy as a dedicated and committed diplomat who was keen on deepening Kenya’s relations with Qatar and the Arab world.

“We have lost one of Kenya’s most devoted diplomats who was keen on strengthening our relations with not only Qatar but the entire Arab world for the benefit of our people,” the President mourned, noting that Amb Ahenda had overseen tremendous growth in trade and people-to-people exchanges between Nairobi and Doha during his tenure.

“I note with appreciation the work of Amb Ahenda. During his tenure as our envoy in Doha, he facilitated the significant rise in the number of Kenyans working in different fields in Qatar from 25,000 to over 30,000.

Ahenda was a former Member of Parliament for Kasipul Kabando and was appointed Kenya’s Ambassador to Qatar in 2018.