Former President Mwai Kibaki is Dead

Kenya’s former President Mwai Kibaki is dead, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on Friday, April 2022. The former president was 90 years old at his passing.

Mwai Kibaki became the third President of Kenya on December 30, 2002, taking over from the late Daniel Moi who had ruled the country for 24 years. Kibaki ruled for 10 years before handing over to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

As a result of the demise of Mwai Kibaki, President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared a period of national mourning until the day that Mwai Kibaki will be laid to rest. Flags across the country will fly half-mast during this period.

“As a leading figure in Kenya’s post-independence history, Mwai Kibaki earned the abiding respect and affection of the people of this nation and other nations throughout the world,” said President Kenyatta in his address. “President Kibaki will forever be remembered as a gentleman in Kenyan politics. He was a brilliant debater, whose eloquence wit and charm won the day, time and time again.”

“His contributions to the restoration of multi-party democracy, as the leader of the official opposition, combined with his track record and impressive credentials made Mwai Kibaki the natural choice for selection as the opposition consensus candidate against my own candidature in 2002 and the presidential elections that followed thereafter.”