Kenyan ambassador to South Sudan Chris Karumba Mburu dies

Kenyan ambassador to South Sudan Chris Karumba Mburu has died of heart attack, the family has said.

According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mburu collapsed at his residence in Juba on Sunday night.

The deceased previously served as the director of External Intelligence at the National Intelligence Service (NIS)

President Uhuru Kenyatta has since sent a message of condolence and comfort to the family, relatives and friends of the deceased envoy.

The President described the late Mr. Mburu as a distinguished career public servant and a great Kenyan diplomat who was committed to building strong bilateral ties between Kenya and South Sudan.

“Death has robbed us of a great public servant who served his country with distinction. Since his appointment as our envoy to Juba, Ambassador Mburu has worked hard to ensure free flow of trade and investment between Kenya and South Sudan,” wrote the President.

The Head of State eulogized the fallen diplomat as a shining star whose service to the nation shall be dearly missed.

“Kenya has lost a brilliant public servant whose star was shining bright and whose service shall be dearly missed,” the President said.

“I deeply sympathize with each one of you as you mourn and pray that God will give you the grace to accept his will,” President Kenyatta wrote in his message to the family.

The late Chris Karumba Mburu was appointed Kenya’s Ambassador to South Sudan by President Kenyatta in 2018.