Former Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has passed away at the age of 90.
President Uhuru Kenyatta made the announcement in a televised address on Friday.
“It is my sorrowful duty to announce to the nation the passing on of H.E. Emilio Mwai Kibaki, the Third President of the Republic of Kenya. H.E. Mwai Kibaki lived a dedicated life of public service. We salute a notable father figure in the chronicles of our nation. A leader who strove so hard and accomplished so much for his country. A nation he so deeply cherished and served with commitment and an unbending will to improve the lives of our people,” President Kenyatta said.
“As we mourn this immeasurable loss, we recall with eternal gratitude President Kibaki’s patriotic journey in service to his country, which can be traced way back to Kenya’s fight for liberation,” he added.
He added that Kibaki will be remembered as a gentleman in Kenyan politics and a brilliant debater with immense contributions in the country’s finance ministry.
Kibaki, who also served as Kenya’s fourth Vice President ended the late President Moi’s more than two decades rule in 2002 when he took over power as Kenya’s third President.
President Kibaki was the only surviving former president after the second President Daniel Moi died in 2020.
During the proclamation, President Kenyatta announced a period of national mourning in respect of Mr Kibaki who is credited for transforming the country following decades of KANU’s misrule.