President Uhuru Kenyatta has eulogized Ambassador Paddy Ahenda as a dedicated and committed diplomat, who was keen on deepening Kenya’s relations with Qatar and the Arab world.
In his message of condolence to the family and friends of Ambassador Ahenda who passed away while receiving treatment in Doha, President Kenyatta said the envoy will be remembered for his servant leadership during his diplomatic service and earlier as the MP for Kasipul Kabondo where he left a strong legacy of development.
He said Ambassador Ahenda had overseen tremendous growth in trade and people-to-people exchanges between Nairobi and Doha during his tenure.
“I note with appreciation the work of Amb Ahenda. During his tenure as our envoy in Doha, he facilitated the significant rise in the number of Kenyans working in different fields in Qatar from 25,000 to over 30,000.
“Amb Ahenda similarly ensured increased trade flows between the two nations with Kenya’s exports to Qatar growing to over Sh9 billion annually. In addition, Amb Ahenda helped attract a growing number of Qatari investors into Kenya who invested in real estate, manufacturing and other sectors of our economy,” he said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while confirming Ahenda’s demise, said he had been hospitalised for five days in Doha.
The ministry said Ahenda was a distinguished diplomat who served the country with “utmost dedication”.
President Kenyatta noted that at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Amb Ahenda mobilized medical aid from the Arab country to support Kenya’s fight against the disease.
He described him as a patriot and devoted public servant whose focus was service to the country and the betterment of the wellbeing of the Kenyan nation.
Ahenda was appointed Kenya’s Ambassador to Qatar in 2018 and submitted his credentials to the State of Qatar in 2019.
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