State funeral for Kenya’s ex-president Kibaki

On Friday, Kenya hosted a national funeral for former President Mwai Kibaki, who died last week at the age of 90 after a decade in rule defined by economic resurgence, scandal, and bloodshed.

Kibaki was the third head of state in Kenya’s history, serving from December 2002 to April 2013 following the 20-year authoritarian regime of Daniel arap Moi and preceding current President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Benches at Nyayo National Stadium in the heart of the capital Nairobi were full under a heavy sky as the procession accompanying Kibaki’s coffin arrived.

“This is marvelous. Kibaki deserves this kind of respect,” said Calvin Omweri, a 40-year-old shoe-shiner who followed the procession.

“Kibaki did a lot for this country and we owe him a lot of respect,” he said, unable to enter the stadium because of the arrival of dignitaries.

Alongside ambassadors, officials and members of the government, a dozen heads of state and prime ministers were expected from across the African continent, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

Kibaki, who trained as an economist in Uganda and London, was elected in 2002 after promising to tackle corruption. But his decade in power was marred by scandals and Kenya’s worst political violence since independence.

In late 2007, his disputed re-election led to violence between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin, two of the country’s largest communities. More than 1,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced.

He also oversaw the adoption of a new constitution in 2010 with reforms aimed at preventing such unrest.

However, Kenya experienced strong economic growth under his leadership, notably through his Vision 2030 programme, taken up by Kenyatta, which allowed the launch of major infrastructure projects as well as health and education reforms.

Leading religious and political figures took to the tribune in the afternoon for prayers and to pay homage to the former president, whose coffin was covered in a heavy Kenyan flag.

They paid tribute to the legacy and intellect of the former president who had also served as a lawmaker, minister and opposition chief.

“When moments were dark, he chose to be the light; when reason was scarce, he became the voice of reason; and when hope was down, he encouraged us all to exercise the gift of long-suffering,” Kenyatta said shortly before the ceremony came to an end.

“Mwai Kibaki was a gentleman, a man of convictions, a man who loved perfection,” said veteran Kenyan leader Raila Odinga, who is making a fifth run for the presidency in August elections.

According to a Kenyan foreign ministry statement, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II praised Kibaki’s “lifelong record of service” to the Kenyan people.

“It will be of deep sadness to your country to have lost a great statesman, but Kenya can take pride in the legacy of his leadership,” the queen said in a message of condolence to President Kenyatta on Thursday.

Ramaphosa compared Kibaki to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

“We remember the leadership Kibaki demonstrated not just in Kenya but on the continent,” Ramaphosa said.

The circumstances of Kibaki’s death have not been made public. His health suffered following a serious car accident in 2002 and he was regularly admitted to hospital in recent years.

On Saturday, the former president will be buried in Othaya, 80 kilometer (50 miles) north of Nairobi, where he lived after leaving office.