The late Garissa Senator Mohamed Yusuf Haji. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Former Cabinet Minister and Garissa Senator Mohamed Yusuf Haji has been laid to rest at Lang'ata Muslim Cemetery in Nairobi. 

The 80-year-old Haji died at the Aga Khan University Hospital early Monday morning after a long illness.

He was buried after 4pm prayers at the South C Mosque in Nairobi.

Friends and family of the late Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji gather at his home in Riverside 104, Nairobi.

In his condolences, President Uhuru eulogised the veteran politician, who until his death was the chairperson of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Taskforce, as a dependable Kenyan leader and patriot.

"It is very unfortunate that we have lost such a dependable, solid and highly accomplished Kenyan leader,” said the president.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the Yusuf Haji’s burial in Nairobi just hours after attending the funeral service of the late Simeon Nyachae in Gusii Stadium, Kisii County.

The country has lost a devoted and indefatigable administrator who was cause-driven. Senator Mohamed Yusuf Haji was a gifted politician, modest yet strategic schemer with ground-breaking mediation skills. pic.twitter.com/5FBLZHaaax — William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 15, 2021

ODM leader Raila Odinga and Governor Hassan Joho were among leaders present during Haji's burial. 

Yusuf Haji during a swearing-in ceremony in February 1999. [File, Standard]

Haji was a long time administrator who served in various areas including the vast Rift Valley between 1970 and 1998. He was nominated to Parliament in 2002. And in 2007, he was elected to Parliament unopposed as Ijara MP.

Yusuf Haji carried shoulder-high by supporters in October 2002. [File, Standard]

Haji was the Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2013 during Mwai Kibaki's administration and briefly served as the acting Minister of Internal Security and Provincial Affairs in 2012.

It was during his tenure when the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops were deployed to Somalia to fight Al Shabaab.

Haji has served in the Senate since 2013 until his death.

He was married and has nine children including Abdul Haji, and Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Mohamed Haji who have both played a role in security matters in the country. One of his children is deceased.