Former Japanese Prime Minister and Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister(2012-2020), Shinzo Abe, shot dead during a campaign speech in Japan, Friday.
“According to a senior Liberal Democratic Party official, former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara region, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 67,” public broadcaster NHK reported.
The police arrested a suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, on an initial charge of attempted murder before Mr. Abe’s death was announced.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has joined fellow world leaders in mourning Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who died today after being shot at a political campaign meeting.
The President expressed shock at the former Japanese leader’s sudden demise, and termed him as a dear friend and development ally of the Kenyan nation.
“It is utter shocking and somewhat unbelievable to learn of the death of my friend, and one of Kenya’s foremost development ally, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a savage shooting incident,” President Kenyatta mourned.
Former Prime Minister Abe, who retired in 2020, visited Nairobi in 2016 during the 6th TICAD conference, during which he held bilateral talks with President Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.