By Website Writer; Kenya’s first opposition President H.E. Emilio Mwai Kibaki has passed on at the age of 90.
The saddening news was first shared by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday.
President Uhuru eulogized the deceased as a leader committed to serving his country at all costs.
“It is my sorrowful duty to announce to the nation the passing on of H.E. Emilio Mwai Kibaki, the Third President of the Republic of Kenya. H.E. Mwai Kibaki lived a dedicated life of public service. We salute a notable father figure in the chronicles of our Nation. A leader who strove so hard and accomplished so much for his country. A nation he so deeply cherished and served with commitment and an unbending will to improve the lives of our people,” H.E Uhuru Kenyata said.
“As we mourn this immeasurable loss, we recall with eternal gratitude President Kibaki’s patriotic journey in service to his Country, which can be traced way back to Kenya’s fight for liberation,” President Uhuru added.
He also delivered his condolence message to Kibaki’s family and Kenya atlarge.
“May President Kibaki’s family be comforted, may his memory be honored and may his example be emulated.”
President Uhuru further declared a period of national mourning with flags flying at half-mast until President Mwai Kibaki is buried.
Apparently, no tentative date has been set for the funeral, however Mr. Kenyatta said the late President will be accorded a State funeral with full military honours and protocols.
“The President, the Deputy President, the Chief Justice, Cabinet Secretaries, the Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate, Kenya diplomats abroad and whomsoever else is so authorised by law, shall not fly the national flag on their official motorcade from today until sunset on the day of Kibaki’s interment,” said Mr Kenyatta.
Mwai Kibaki’s life;
Born in 1931 in Thunguri village, Kibaki was a Kenyan politician who served as the third President of Kenya from December 2002 till April 2013.
He had previously served as the fourth Vice-President of Kenya for ten years from 1978 to 1988 under President Daniel Arap Moi.
He also held cabinet ministerial positions in the Kenyatta and Moi governments, including time as minister for Finance (1969–1981) under Kenyatta, and Minister for Home Affairs (1982–1988) and Minister for Health (1988–1991) under Moi.
Kibaki served as an opposition Member of Parliament from 1992 to 2002. He unsuccessfully vied for the presidency in 1992 and 1997.
He served as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament from 1998 to 2002. In the 2002 presidential election, he was elected as President of Kenya.
Rest in peace H.E Mwai Kibaki!
