NAIROBI, 14 February (IRIN) - The
German aid agency has expressed concern over insecurity in Kenya following
the weekend murder of one of its field staff members in Nairobi, and has
urged the authorities to improve security.
Werner von der Ohe, an agricultural
expert who worked for the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
in Kenya, was on Sunday night attacked and shot dead by an armed gang outside
his house in Nairobi. Preliminary investigations have indicated that the
murder was part of a robbery attempt.
According to media reports, Von der Ohe was waiting for the gate to his residence to be opened when he was accosted by a gang which demanded money and his cell phone, before shooting him. The Kenyan police have said are still conducting investigations into the crime.
A spokesman at the GTZ office in Nairobi told IRIN that the agency, together with the German embassy, were in close contact with the Kenyan foreign ministry to ensure that a thorough and speedy investigation was carried out.
"We are concerned that security is a big problem in Kenya," he said. "We urge our partners, the Kenyan government to improve security, especially for foreign staff working here."
Von der Ohe, who has worked for GTZ in Kenya since 1994, was attached to the Kenyan ministry for agriculture and was responsible for two projects - the "Kenyan Agricultural Sector Information Management" and "Promotion of Agriculture Extension Services".
GTZ said it was planning to continue with the projects. "The projects will continue," the spokesman said. "We will continue working with the sector."
[ENDS]
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