KENYA: Bishops, Heads of State Mourn Former President Kibaki as Selfless Leader
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Catholic bishops in Kenya under their national body Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have mourned the third President of the Country, His Excellency Emilio Mwai Kibaki as a selfless and dedicated leader whose legacy should be emulated by anyone seeking public office.
In their statement shared Monday, April 25, days after the death of the former President which occurred on Friday, April 22, the prelates remembered the traits of the former head of State and how he touched people’s lives saying: “As a Church we are deeply touched by the departure of one of Kenya’s long serving political leaders whose public career touched many lives and left an indelible mark in the hearts of all the people he encountered.”
“We shall forever remember him for his humility, heroic virtues, cheerful character, strong personality and selfless dedication to his country and the people of Kenya,” the bishops paid their tribute in the Monday statement signed by KCCB chairman Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa Archdiocese
They added, “President Kibaki was a gift from God which enabled all those whom he encountered to fruitfully give their all in service to their country. He leaves behind a rich legacy for our Nation and his example should be emulated by anyone seeking public office.”
In the message addressed to the incumbent President of Kenya, the family of the late Head of State and to all citizens, Church leaders assured Kenyans their prayers asking for God’s consolation such moments of tribulations.
“In this sad moment, our sympathy, thoughts and prayers go to the family of the late President Mwai Kibaki. We pray that God will comfort their hearts and bring peace to their spirits during this difficult moment. We join them in prayer for the repose of the soul of the late President,” they said.
President Kibaki died at the age of 90. As the country’s third Head of State since independence, he led the country for over a decade.
Announcing his death on Friday to the nation, the current President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta eulogized the late former President saying, “President Kibaki will be forever remembered as the gentleman of Kenyan Politics, a brilliant debater; whose eloquence, wit, and charm won the day, time and-time again.”
President Uhuru he successor of the late President declared national mourning period from the day of Kibaki’s death until the sunset of his burial. He ordered that the flag of Kenya be flown at half-mast to mark the mourning in all State House and Kenyan diplomatic missions during the mourning period.
Kibaki’s body lay in state at Parliament Buildings for three-day public viewing followed by a state funeral a day before his burial at Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya’s capital Nairobi with full Military Honors and Protocols.
The former Head of State will be interred at his home in Othaya, Nyeri County on Saturday April 30.
In South Sudan, President Salva Kiir declared a three- day mourning of Kenya’s president and paid his tribute describing Kibaki as a “courageous statesman who took principled stance in his pursuit of dignified and practical politics throughout his political career.”
On her part, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan sent a condolence message to Kenyan President following the death of his predecessor saying “Africa has lost one of its finest sons and a dedicated public servant.” While Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni referred to Kibaki’s death as a loss of “a transformational leader and a true pan-Africanist.”
He said the late Kenyan leader worked tirelessly for the transformation of Kenya and “While at the helm of Kenya’s leadership, he played a fundamental role in achieving socio-economic transformation and prosperity for Kenyan people.”
He added that President Kibaki “was active in deepening the roots of African unity and cooperation for peace, development and security.”
