NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 23 – Kenya’s third President Mwai Kibaki who died on Friday will lie in State in Parliament from Monday to Wednesday.
A committee planning his burial said a funeral service will be held at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Friday ahead of his burial set for Saturday in Mweiga,
Nyeri.
“This is for the members of the public and the rest of the country in leadership to pay their last respects. Members of the public need to be informed that those who are in Nairobi and would like to visit with the family, it will have to be between Tuesday and Wednesday at President Kibaki’s Nyari office,” Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi who is also the chair of the committee said.
Kibaki, who ruled Kenya from 2002 to 2012, died on Friday morning aged 90.
“We have finalized preliminary plans for the state funeral of his excellency President Mwai Kibaki, and we would like the public to know that this will happen on Friday the 29 of April, 2022 at Nyayo National Stadium and President Kenyatta will then be laid
to rest on Saturday the 30th of April 2022,” Matiangi further stated.
CS Matiangi also pointed out that condolence’s books will be placed in different government offices including National Assembly Senate, County Assemblies for the public to go and give their condolences.
Matiangi was flanked by President Kibaki’s children who include Judy Wanjiku, Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagai, and Tony Githinji.
He was also accompanied by other members of the committee including Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, Inspector of General of Police Hillary Mutyambai among others.
Kibaki’s death was announced on Friday morning by President Uhuru Kenyatta who succeeded him in 2013.
“It is my sorrowful duty to announce to the nation the passing on of His Excellency Emilio Mwai Kibaki, the third president of the Republic of Kenya,” Kenyatta said in a televised address from State House, “We have lost a great leader.”
“I order and direct that in the testimony of high esteem that all Kenyans held for Mwai Kibaki, the country will hold a period of national mourning until sunset on the day he will be buried. All flags will fly at half-mast during this period,” he added.
Kibaki served as Kenya’s third president from 2002 to April 2013 at the end of second and final term as required by the Constitution.
Since leaving office, Kibaki has been in and out of hospital due to multiple health complications and old age.
He took over from the late Daniel Arap Moi who was president from 1978 to 2002 having taken over when founding leader of the nation Jomo Kenyatta died in office.
President Kenyatta announced that the third President of Kenya will be accorded a State Funeral, with full Military Honors with all protocols being rendered.
The Head of State declared that the flag of Kenya will also be flown at half-mast to mark the mourning in all State House and Kenyan diplomatic missions during the period of mourning.
“That the Flag of the Republic of Kenya shall be flown at half-mast at State House and all Kenyan Diplomatic Missions, Public Buildings and Public Grounds, all Military Bases, Posts, and Stations, on all Naval Vessels of the Republic of Kenya, and
elsewhere throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya; from today
until sunset on the day of his interment,” he said.
Further, all appointed state officers have been authorized not to fly the national flag in their motorcade till the sunset on the day of his burial.
“That the President, the Deputy-President, the Chief Justice, Cabinet Secretaries, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Speaker of the Senate, Kenya’s Diplomats abroad and whomsoever else is so authorized by law, shall not fly the national flag on their official motorcade from today until sunset on the day of his interment,
“the head of state said.
