South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit arrived in Nairobi last evening to attend former Kenyan President Emilio Mwai Kibaki’s state funeral today.
Kiir is among other heads of state including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ethiopian Head of State Sahle-Work-Zewde who are attending the service, which will be conducted between 8 am and 2 pm at the Nyayo National Stadium.
At least 10 heads of state and government are expected to jet into Kenya for the funeral service.
President Kiir, who declared three days of national mourning with flags flying at half-mast across South Sudan in honour of Kibaki, described him as a courageous statesman who earned the respect of his peers because of his work on regional stability.
“President Kibaki took a principled stance in his pursuit of dignified and practical politics throughout his political career. In opposition, his practical approach to politics kept the torch of accountability on Kenyan institutions,” President Kiir said.
Kenyans viewed Kibaki’s body which laid in state at Parliament buildings from Monday to Wednesday.
President Kibaki was sworn in as the third President of Kenya on December 30, 2002, and served until April 9, 2013.
He died on April 22 aged 90 and will be laid to rest on Saturday at his home in Othaya, Nyeri County, where preparations for his burial are underway.