Venezuela’s acting ambassador to Kenya murdered in Nairobi

Venezuela’s acting ambassador to Kenya, Olga Fonseca, has been strangled to death at her official residence in Nairobi.

“We received reports that she was found dead in the house on her bed. What we have seen is that she has been strangled,” Reuters quoted Anthony Kibuchi, Nairobi area police commander, as saying outside the home on Friday, shortly after the body was discovered. The motive for the killing was not immediately clear.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday, saying it “expresses its deepest regret at the unfortunate passing of the citizen Olga Arelis Fonseca Gimenez.”

The statement called the killing “deplorable” and “violent” and added, “Fonseca had a brilliant diplomatic career… she was recognized for her impeccable personal and professional life, and for her services to just causes.”

The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Fonseca reported to the Venezuelan Embassy in Nairobi on July 15 to replace Ambassador Gerardo Carillo-Silva. Officials in Caracas said she also represented Venezuela at UN agencies based in Nairobi and had responsibility for Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Carrillo-Silva fled Kenya after three male workers at the ambassador’s residence filed a complaint with the police accusing him of sexual harassment.

After her arrival, Fonseca reportedly demanded that the workers withdraw their sexual abuse complaints against her predecessor.