NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr, 22 – The country Friday woke up to sad news that Kenya’s third president Mwai Kibaki had died at the age of 90.
Hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta through a proclamation at State House Nairobi announced his death, Kenyans continue to express their messages of condolences hailing him as a liberator, patriot, statesman, and reformist that led the country to great economic success.
In his address to the nation, President Kenyatta hailed Kibaki as a notable father figure to the nation as well as a leader that strived to improve the lives of Kenyans through various economic reforms.
“The late former President’s administration conceptualized and spearheaded a transformation in critical sectors such as Education through the globally lauded Free Primary Education Programme, Infrastructure Developments in Transport and Energy, and increasing the availability and access to Healthcare for his fellow Kenyans. In honour 3 of this great Statesman, Kenya remains committed to maintaining policies that promote economic and social empowerment, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights,” said Kenyatta.
Deputy President William Ruto also mourned the death of Kibaki.
“Kibaki was an economist per excellence, he truly reformed the country’s economy. He distinguished himself with the great legacy he has left behind..an accomplished Kenyan, a man we all respect,” said Ruto.
Presidential hopeful in the upcoming elections Raila Odinga, who famously endorsed Kibaki for president in 2002 through his famous,’Kibaki Tosha’ slogan, later serving with him in the grand coalition government as prime minister termed the passing of Kibaki as a great loss to the country.
“Mwai Kibaki is one of the freedom fighters of our county, he has served this country for many years with diligence, fortitude, honesty, and transparency. Nobody was better than Mwai Kibaki when it came to creating team spirit and inspiring his minsters,” said Odinga. who further said that,” A lot is going to be said about Mwai Kibaki as we Eulogize him, on behalf of the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance, on behalf of our respective political parties and my family, we condole with the family of Mwai Kibaki and the rest of Kenyans and we say may the lord rest his soul in eternal peace,”
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka who also served as his vice president for five years described Kibaki as an iconic father figure for Kenya.
“I had the singular privilege of serving as his vice president for five years…I can tell you there are very few leaders even within the African continent with the spirit of selflessness and singular sense of purpose and service to his people more than Mwai Kibaki. As we mourn him, we have to remember moments when he would get this nation laughing, that was Mwai Kibaki, he would use language that younger Kenyans would not be allowed to use and we would all go laughing,” said Kalonzo.
“When my brother Raila at Uhuru park in 2002 put a question to the mammoth congregation at Uhuru Park which eventually the crowd and Kenyans became engulfed in the spirit of the merger between, Rainbow, LDP,NAK of Kibaki and he asked a question, si anatosha? and that has become a very historic statement that we all knew Kibaki alitosha,” he further said.
Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi meanwhile described Kibaki as a man of great repute, who participated in the country’s struggle for independence.
“Indeed, the country has lost a great son, a pioneering industrialist, and an outstanding economist. On behalf of the Amani National Congress and my family, I wish to say poleni sana to his family, friends, and indeed to all the people of Kenya.May his soul rest in peace,” said Mudavadi.
FORD-Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula at the same time hailed Kibaki as the best president the country has ever seen.
“Distinguished right from Makerere University as an economist and as a teacher, Mwai Kibaki scaled the heights of Kenyan politics from the humility of the executive office of the then ruling party to rise to be one of the finest finance ministers of this country and then the best president that we had,” said Wetangula who further observed that,” we will remember him fondly as one of the most de-tribalized leaders in this country, he stood out made friends far and wide in Kenya and as people of this region you may remember in his landslide win in 2002 to become our third president,”
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