His Last Days Were Difficult, Kibaki’s Son Jimmy Speaks on His Dad’s Battle with Illness

Former President Mwai Kibaki’s eldest son Jimmy Kibaki has opened up about his father’s battle with illness before his death on Friday.

Jimmy disclosed that his father had been ailing for about three years and that the last three months prior to his death were the most difficult, adding that they were all prepared as a family.

"Mzee had been ailing for about two or three years but for the last three months were quite difficult but he put up quite a good battle but in the end because of age and other factors determined that he had to go," Jimmy said on Monday.

He added: “As a family, we are a bit private, and that is why maybe the public did not get to know much about his illness.”

Jimmy was speaking to journalists at parliament, where the body of Kibaki is lying in state for public viewing ahead of his State funeral and burial.

Kibaki’s body will lie in state at parliament for three days before his State funeral scheduled for Friday at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

During the funeral, the former president will be accorded full military honors and protocols, including a 19-gun salute.

Kibaki, who served as Kenya’s third president from 2002 to 2013, passed away last Friday at the age of 90. He will be laid to rest on Saturday at his home in Othaya, Nyeri County.