Uhuru leads nation in mourning envoy to Lagos Machage
By Kepher Otieno, February 21, 2022President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday condoled with the family, relatives and friends of Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr Wilfred Gisuka Machage who died on Saturday afternoon.
Machage, a two-term Kuria East MP, Migori Senator and former Cabinet Minister, is reported to have collapsed and died suddenly at his official residence in Abuja, Nigeria.
In his condolence message, the President eulogised the departed Machage, 65, as a seasoned politician, consummate diplomat and committed public servant who served the country with distinction and utmost dedication.
ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday paid tribute to the late Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria. Raila termed Machage as a courageous and eloquent politician who articulated issues concerning his minority Kuria community in Migori county with a passionate zeal.
“ We are deeply saddened by his sudden demise and pray to God to grant his family strength and fortitude to overcome the loss,”said Odinga.
The 65-year-old diplomat collapsed at his home and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival in the presence of his wife, according to the Ministry of Foreign affairs.
Yesterday, Migori Senator Ochillo Ayacko rued the death and prayed to the family and the people of Migori county during the time of grief. “We are saddened by the death and we are praying for the family, relatives and friends,” said Ayacko
He said the late Machage was a towering politician in Migori county.
Kuria East and West MP Marwa Kitayama and Mathias Robi also mourned Machage as a good man who meant well for the people of Migori especially his Abakuria community.
It is recalled, that it is Machage who pushed and negotiated for democracy that would see him be elected as the first Migori county senator under the devolved administrative system in 2013.
Kitayama prayed to the family.”We are sorry for the loss. Machage mentored many politicians of today and his fiery politics of equity will forever be remembered.”
Robi said: “It’s a sad moment for the Kuria community and the people of Migori. We have lost a warrior.”
Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau said Kenya had lost a dedicated and committed leader.
As the envoy to Nigeria, Dr Machage was also charged with the onus to oversee diplomatic missions in Ivory coast, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo and Niger. Dr Machage was appointed to the position by President Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2018, prior to which he served as Senator for Migori County.
He joined politics in 2002 when he won a Parliamentary seat to represent the then Kuria Constituency. He retained his seat in 2007, before running for the Senate position which he won defeating former late assistant minister Oluoch Kanindo and former Eala MP Ochieng Mbeo.