Kenya Arrests Six over Venezuelan Diplomat’s Murder

Six people have been arrested in Kenya in connection with the murder of Venezuela's acting ambassador.

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Six people have been arrested in Kenya in connection with the murder of Venezuela’s acting ambassador.

The diplomat, Olga Fonseca, was found strangled to death at her official residence in Nairobi on Friday.

Kenyan officials said some staff at the residency had complained about being fired by Ms Fonseca after they refused to retract allegations about her predecessor, Gerardo Carrillo Silva.

He left Nairobi two months ago after six years in the post.

The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was conducting an investigation into the allegations against Mr Carrillo Silva.

Venezuelan assistance

Two Venezuelan government officials arrived in Nairobi on Saturday to help with the probe into Ms Fonseca’s killing.

She had started her new role in Nairobi on 15 July.

Staff had found Ms Fonseca, 57, in her bedroom on Friday morning.

She had only moved into the official residence, which is surrounded by an electrified fence, two days previously.

Chief of Nairobi police Anthony Kibuchi said investigations were progressing well.

He told local media he expected to charge some of the suspects either on Monday or Tuesday.

Government reaction

In a statement released last Friday, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry lamented the death of Fonseca, who they said had “led a brilliant and committed diplomatic career”.

The statement also confirmed that the government trusts in the Kenyan authorities to find those repsonsible for her murder.

Edited by Venezuelanalysis