Former Kenyan envoy to France Dan Karobia dies in US

A former Kenyan ambassador to France and Spain, Dan Jonathan Karobia, has passed away in his home in Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA.

Mr Karobia, 75, collapsed in his house on January 3 and died.

“By the time the paramedics arrived, he was no more,” said Ms Mary Bowers, a close family friend.

In a phone interview with the Nation on Thursday, Ms Bowers said the former envoy had been ailing for some time and lived with his children in Decatur, Georgia.

“His family and the Kenyan community here (are) devastated by the news of the passing on of Mr Karobia,” she said.

Mr Karobia graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1971 and later worked at the Co-operative College in Lang'ata as director of studies.

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In 1974 he was appointed director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme in Africa and moved to London in 1978 as the director of Youth representing the commonwealth countries.

At the end of his tenure, he moved back to Kenya and was shortly after appointed to the post of Kenya’s ambassador to France/Spain and The Vatican by President Daniel arap Moi.

He returned to Kenya in 1996 and worked as an undersecretary until his retirement.

The former envoy later moved to Decatur, Georgia, to join his children.

Until his death, Mr Karobia did voluntary work at the Pentecostal Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

“He was teaching English as a second language to members of the church,” said George Moore, a friend of the deceased.

Mr Karobia was born on January 29, 1940 in the then Murang’a District and is survived by his wife, Carrie Wambui Karobia, and his four children.

His body was moved to West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta, Georgia.