TRAGIC: A mourner at the funeral service of Mbugua Mwangi and his fianc?e Rosemary Wahito at the Nairobi Chapel on Friday.
KENYAN diplomats have been angered by a memo sent out to them to contribute to the funeral expenses of President Uhuru Kenyatta's nephew who died in the Westgate terror attack.
Mbugua Mwangi was among more than 60 Kenyans who was killed in the attack, and alongside his fiance Rosemary Wahito, were buried last week.
Mbugua was the son of Kenyan diplomat Catherine Mwangi, a former ambassador to Ireland and a sister to nominated Senator Beth Mugo and former politician Ngengi Muigai who are first cousins of the President.
On Friday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho sent out a memo to all heads of Kenyan missions requesting that they make contribution.
Ambassadors were asked to contribute "at least Sh5,000" while other officers were asked to give "at least Sh2,000".
"Please send your contributions to the office of the Principal Secretary by 5th October, 2013," Kibicho said in the memo.
The request has been interpreted by some of the diplomats as a "directive" since it gives the amounts that each of them should contribute.
"We are wondering why there had to be an amount for us to contribute. Such things are done from an individuals goodwill and should not be forced on people," a diplomatic source said.
There are some who have questioned why the said request was sent on the day of the burial and contributions being made after Mbugua and his fiance had been buried.
Kenya has 52 missions across the world which would mean that the contributions by the ambassadors alone would total up to Sh260,000.
It is still unclear why the Foreign Affairs office made such a move given that the Kenyatta family is perceived to be one of the wealthiest in the country.
President Uhuru expressing his sentiments after the tragic incident said, "I feel the pain of every life we have lost, and share your grief at our nation’s loss."
He called his slain relatives "young, lovely people I personally knew and loved."
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