Former President Mwai Kibaki Dies at the Age of 90

Retired President Mwai Kibaki has passed away at the age of 90. 

The announcement was made on Friday by President Kenyatta, who termed his death a sad day for the country.

“It is a sad day for us as a country. We have lost a great leader, the former president Mwai Kibaki,” Uhuru said in a televised address from State House.

Kenyatta declared a national mourning period from Friday until sunset on the day Kibaki will be laid to rest.

“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,” Kenyatta ordered.

During the mourning period, the Kenyan flag will also be flown at half-mast across the country and in all Kenyan diplomatic missions abroad.

Uhuru also directed the Deputy President, the Chief Justice, Cabinet Secretaries, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Speaker of the Senate, Kenya’s diplomats abroad, and anyone else authorized by law, not fly the national flag on their official motorcade from Friday until sunset on the day Kibaki will be buried.

“While Emilio Mwai Kibaki is no longer with us in body, his spirit, legacy, values and ideals lives on in you and in the limitless ways that he made Kenya immeasurably better," Uhuru said in his message of condolence.

“Mwai Kibaki lives on in the hearts of millions of Kenyans, East Africans, and Africans who benefited from his leadership, admired his character, and were inspired by his example. Mwai Kibaki lives on in our fond memories of his strength of will, charm, wit, and his passionate love of God, Family, Nation, and Humanity.”

The former president will be accorded a State funeral with full military honors and protocols being rendered and observed.

Kibaki, who was born in Othaya, Nyeri County in 1931, served as Kenya’s third president between 2002 and 2013, during which Kenya realized unprecedented economic growth.