By Mukembo Fred
Kenya’s former president, Mwai Kibaki, has died at the age of 90, President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced in televised broadcast.
“As a leading figure in Kenya’s post-independence history, his excellency Mwai Kibaki earned the abiding respect and affection of the people of this nation and other nations throughout the world,” Kenyatta said
He was the first leader not from the Kenya African National Union (Kanu), which had ruled for 40 years after independence, and was in power from 2002 to 2013.
“Mwai Kibaki earned the abiding respect and affection of the people of this nation,” President Kenyatta said.
“President Kibaki will forever be remembered as a gentleman in Kenyan politics. He was a brilliant debater, whose eloquence wit and charm won the day, time and time again. His contributions to the restoration of multi-party democracy, as the leader of the official opposition, combined with his track record and impressive credentials made Mwai Kibaki the natural choice for selection as the opposition consensus candidate against my own candidature in 2002 .” Kenyatta added as directed that Kenyan flag to be flown at half-mast beginning today until Kibaki’s burial
