Sonja Parkinson said she loves Kenya and would continue living at the family home on a 40,000 acre wildlife ranch at the foothills of Mt Kenya, where her 58 year old husband met his death/COURTESY DAILY MAIL
Sonja Parkinson said she loves Kenya and would continue living at the family home on a 40,000 acre wildlife ranch at the foothills of Mt Kenya, where her 58 year old husband met his death.
Sonja added that her husband, David Parkinson played a key role in conservation efforts and these work must continue in the wake of his death.
“His activities have resulted in direct improvements to the lives and skills of many in the surrounding community. They too are telling us that his loss is also their loss and that they too are sharing our pain,” she said in a statement.
The mother of two at the same time urged the media to give them time and space to grieve.
She also lauded efforts made by the Kenya police and government in investigating the death so far and urged them to track down the ‘evil murderers before they attack any more innocent people’.
“To the media I ask that you now give me and my family space to come to terms with David’s death. Please leave us alone and stay off our property so that we can grieve in peace,” pleaded Sonja.
“To all those local friends who have directly rallied round us here in our hour of need – thank you.”
A report in the UK’s Daily Mail had indicated that the family was attacked by a machete wielding gang at around 2am, killing Parkinson, as he tried to protect his wife.
The gang is said to have slashed his left hand and left him bleeding profusely as the wife hid in the family’s strong room.
Parkinson had served in the British army for 30 years before he became the ranch’s manager upon his retirement.
“In our darkest hours, whilst trying to make sense of the loss of my husband and Anna and Renate’s father, we have been uplifted by the overwhelming support that we have received from the communities that we live in and work with, and from the swift and professional response by the Kenya Police Service and the Kenyan Administration,” she said.
The region is famed for its high-end safaris and is popular with British expatriates including Prince William – the Duke of Cambridge.
The Daily Mail said Prince William who is a patron of Lewa, said he was ‘saddened’ to hear about Lt Col Parkinson’s death.
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