Heroic send off for president Kibaki as leaders keep off politics

Family members of Former President Mwai Kibaki are prayed for during the State Funeral Service at Nyayo national stadium in Nairobi on April 29, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

It was a grand sendoff fit for an icon, economist and a president. Kenyans and dozens of foreign dignitaries gathered at Nyayo National Stadium for a memorial service to honor former President Mwai Kibaki.

About 30,000 guests, including family, friends, world leaders and figures from politics and business, watched as the body of Kenya’s Third President was rolled into the rain soaked stadium trailing a military band. Leaders from different parts of the continent yesterday paid glowing tributes to former president Kibaki as they paid their last respects during a funeral service at Nyayo stadium.