Release No. 0329.98 

Statement

                               by
               Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
                        August 10, 1998

     "I am deeply saddened by the reported death of a USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS) employee, Evans Onsongo, as a result of the
terrorist bombing of the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday.  Mr.
Onsongo, a Kenyan working as the agricultural specialist in our FAS office,
was one of many casualties of this tragedy.  He is survived by his wife and
two children.

     "My heart goes out to his family and the families of all the American
and African victims of this cowardly and senseless act.  Despite the many
hazards of serving around the world, this is the first time in memory that an
FAS employee has been killed in the line of duty.  We will never forget this
painful loss.

     "We also have reports of serious injuries to two other FAS employees --
Lydia Mbithi, the office secretary, and Moses Kinyua, the clerk-messenger for
our Nairobi office.  We at USDA extend our heartfelt wishes to both of them
for a full and rapid recovery.  

     "In his radio address on Saturday, President Clinton said that those who
died in the embassy bombing gave their lives to the highest calling, and he
pledged to intensify U.S. efforts to apprehend all terrorists and bring them
to justice.  In the meantime, I have asked the entire USDA family to join
together in mourning our loss and praying for those who were seriously
injured." 
                                
                                
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