President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence to the family, relatives and friends of the former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe following his assassination.
In his message of comfort, the head of state who expressed shock over the sudden demise of Abe described him as a dear friend and ally of the Kenyan nation.
“It is utterly shocking and somewhat unbelievable to learn of the death of my friend, and one of Kenya’s foremost development ally, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a savage shooting incident,” President Kenyatta mourned.
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— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) July 8, 2022
President Uhuru Kenyatta has joined fellow world leaders in mourning Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who died today after being shot at a political campaign meeting. pic.twitter.com/LoYK4QlIBc
Other African leaders joined world leaders to share condolences.
The former prime minister was shot dead on Friday as he was campaigning in the city of Nara.
“Former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 67.” a senior member of Abe’s liberal democratic party stated.
He was campaigning for the Liberal Democratic Party candidates ahead of the elections slated for Sunday, July 10, 2022.
Abe’s death becomes the first assassination of a sitting or former Japanese prime minister since the days of pre-war militarism in the 1930s.
So far, Japanese authorities have arrested a 41-year-old suspect in connection with the shooting.
