Kenyans mourn the fallen Zambia High Commissioner

The late Zambian High Commissioner to Kenya Brenda Muntemba-Sichilembe. She died in Nairobi.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma yesterday led Kenyans in mourning the loss of Zambian High Commissioner to Kenya Brenda Muntemba.

Muntemba, 49, (pictured), succumbed to injuries sustained in a road accident on February 26.

Muntemba, her colleague Kama Wasa and driver Joseph Guttu were on their way to Nairobi from a meeting in Athi River when the accident occurred.

Their vehicle collided with a trailer at Lukenya Bridge on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Muntemba was taken to Machakos Level Five Hospital and later transferred to Nairobi Hospital ICU, where she died on Tuesday night.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Brenda Muntemba, the High Commissioner of Zambia to Kenya, last night,” said Ms Juma, adding: “I convey my deepest condolences and those of Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to her family, friends and colleague Joe Malanji, for this great loss.”

She said the High Commissioner dedicated her competencies to strengthening Kenya-Zambia relations.

“May God Rest her soul in eternal peace. Rest in peace my sister,” Juma said.

Muntemba was married to Reverend Sulanji Sichilembe. They had a daughter, Lukundo Mirriam Nachilembe.

Before her appointment as High Commissioner, she served as Southern Province Police Commissioner and Chief Programme Officer at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in Zambia.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris also mourned Muntemba.