NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 25 – “At 90 he has lived a long life. We were not caught by surprise because he was ailing for some time, it’s only that the public did not know,” these were the words of Jimmy Kibaki.
He is former President, the late Mwai Kibaki’s son.
He made the poignant remarks at Parliament Buildings, where alongside his siblings, they went to view the late father’s body.
Kenya’s third president will lie in state until Wednesday before being laid to rest on April,30,2022 at his Othaya home in Nyeri county.
As thousands of Kenyans pay their final respects to a man they called President for 10 years, for the Kibaki family, the former head of state wore a different title; father, grandfather, and even a mentor.
In the last three years according to Jimmy, the former president had been ailing. Doctors and family members catered to all his needs.
Even in his most difficult of moments, he is said to have been ‘strong’ best encapsulating the attributes he has exuded in his 50 years in public service.
“His last three months were quite difficult but really, in the last one-month things started deteriorating really fast but he put up quite a good battle. But in the end, because of age and other factors, the end came quite fast but he was comfortable throughout,” he said.
At his core, Kibaki was always a family man, Jimmy said. He said Kibaki prioritized them above all else, even when it was not popular with those he worked with.
“Mzee was a family man, nothing interfered with his family life,” he said.
“When he became president in 2003, many officials did not even understand as Mzee’s family came first to him but when they got to understand that, then his operations started moving very smoothly…for many politicians, their political life is the most important thing but for mzee, his family first and everything else second.”
So dedicated to his family was president Kibaki that he would have his grandchildren regularly around him at State House, whether it was on a working day, school day, or even during holidays.
Even at 59 years of age, Jimmy says that his relationship with his father was always strong as he always sought counsel from him in anything he endeavored to do.
“You know when your father is there you always feel safe but now that he has gone to be with the Lord, we have to learn to live with that,” he said.
“I don’t think that it has really hit me that he is really gone. I think it will hit me when we bury him in Othaya on Saturday that he is not there anymore.”
Kibaki is said to have been a man with a larger-than-life personality just like the gentlemen of his generation.
He was far from ordinary, said Jimmy, while reiterating, that his duty to country and never to self is what endeared him to Kenyans during his terms as he spearheaded several social, political, and economic transformation programmes.
Hailed for his policies on Education and even progressive reforms that saw the country’s economy rise from the doldrums, in turn improving the lives of ordinary citizens, Jimmy said, that his father never solely took credit for that, but always sought to praise those he worked with.
“Even when he was president and achieved so much success, he always reminded us that the economy during his presidency was built by Kenyans and not by him. He used to say that one man can not build an economy but Kenyans can build their country. That was his message,” he said.
On whether he harbours any political ambitions in the future, the son the country’s third president said that he would make an announcement when the time is right.
“Let us finish honouring Mzee and then you ask me that question two weeks from today and you will get a definitive answer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jimmy’s wife Catherine also eulogized him as a father figure, grandfather, and even a mentor.
“Because we are a family unit we have been consoling each other, talking to each other knowing mzee has been here for 90 plus years and we understand God has given us a great gift. The grandchildren were hit the hardest since they are younger but with time we are going to be able to bare the burden and the void mzee has left,” said Catherine Kibaki.
After lying in state for three days, on Friday, April 29, 2022, the military gun carriage and State Funeral Procession will make their way from State House to the Nyayo Stadium, the venue of the National State Funeral.
The National State Funeral Memorial Service will be interdenominational and led by the Catholic Church.
“The Government encourages all Kenyans to participate in the State Ceremonies and to also take time to honour the memory and legacy of the Third (3rd) President by reflecting on ways in which each one of us can foster the wellness of our nation by creating a more peaceful, loving, and united Kenya,” said Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i.
All Arms of Government and state officials are expected to participate in the State Ceremonies.
These events will be broadcasted live on all national Television and Radio Stations.
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