In Memory Of Andrew Karani

It is with profound sorrow, pain and regret that I write to bring to you the sad news of the death of our dear friend Andrew Karani. Andrew died on March 11 2009, barely five weeks since he emigrated to the United States of America from Kenya.

Andrew arrived in Minnesota on Tuesday, February 3rd 2009, after winning the US government sponsored Diversity Lottery visa program for 2008, also known as the Green Card Lottery, which enables foreigners from certain parts of the world to immigrate to the US and offers them a path to US citizenship. Since his arrival in the US and until his death, Andrew was a guest at Dr. David Menge’s house. Dr. Menge was his classmate and friend at both JKUAT and the University of Nairobi. Dr. Menge and I are the only friends that Andrew that Andrew had in the US at the time when he relocated. He has no family or relatives in the US.

On March 11 2009, Andrew, with all his usual jovial self, woke up early, as had become his practice, to see Menge’s oldest son off to school. He then came back to the house, had breakfast and played a little with Menge’s 1½ year-old daughter before proceeding to make a few phone calls to follow up on a few job leads that he had received and also browse for more jobs on the Internet. At around 3:30 PM, he went into his room to take his usual afternoon nap, something that had come to be known as routine for him. That is the last time he was seen alive. He was discovered stiff and motionless on his bed when he failed to come to the table for dinner with the Menges at around 8:00 PM. Paramedics who were called immediately after this discovery pronounced him dead a few minutes later. Medical tests to determine cause of his death are ongoing. Andrew was 38 years old.

May our good Lord rest his soul in eternal peace.