Mwai Kibaki, a former Kenyan leader whose distinguished political career was marred by the deaths of dozens that followed a deadly post-election violence, has died at the age of 90.
KAMPALA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Former Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has died at the age of 90, leaving behind a distinguished political career that was tarnished when he won a second term followed by deadly post-election violence.
- The President of Kenya, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, announced this morning that Kenya’s third president, Mwai Kibaki, has died.
- Kibaki’s cause of death has not been revealed, but he had been in and out of hospitals in recent years as his health deteriorated.
- Kenyatta described Kibaki as a “quintessential patriot whose accomplishments will inspire generations of Kenyans.”
- From Friday to Kibaki’s burial, all public officials authorized to fly flags on their motorcades will not be permitted to do so, Kenyatta announced.
- The decree will extend to all government officials, including the president, deputy president, chief justice and diplomats.
- Read also: Thembi Mthembu, the widow of the late Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu, passed away on Thursday morning at a Pretoria hospital after a short illness.
In recent years, Kibaki had been in and out of the hospital as his health was deteriorating. There is no specific information about the cause of death.
In a statement, President Kenyatta said that the country would observe a period of national mourning from today until the sun sets on the day of his burial. It was ordered that the Kenyan flag be flown at half mast during this period of mourning.
“Mwai Kibaki will forever be remembered as a gentleman in Kenyan politics, a brilliant debater and one who steered development in the country,” Kenyatta announced, declaring mourning until his funeral.
Kibaki was described by Kenyatta as a “quintessential patriot, whose legacy of civic responsibility will continue to enlighten generations of Kenyans.”
At State House and all Kenyan diplomatic missions, public buildings and grounds, military bases and Kenyan naval vessels, the flag will be flown at half mast.
From Friday until Kibaki is buried, all public officials authorised to have flags on their motorcades including ”the president, the vice president, the chief justice and diplomats” will not be permitted to have the national flag flown on their official motorcades, President Kenyatta announced.
Adding to the ceremony, President Kenyatta said the former president would be given a state funeral with full military honors.
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE DEATH OF H.E. HON. EMILIO MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H. THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA SOLEMNLY ISSUED AT STATE HOUSE, NAIROBI ON THE TWENTY-SECOND DAY OF APRIL, 2022
Read more: https://t.co/8ajFBcRMKP pic.twitter.com/jqA1MMcRXU
— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) April 22, 2022
Kibaki held the office of president from December 30, 2002 to April 9, 2013. His children include Judy Wanjiku, Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagai, and Tony Githinji.
After the 2007-2008 election violence, Kibaki agreed to power-sharing due to pressure from Kofi Annan, leading to the Odinga-Uhuru deal which we see today.
