Nairobi: Kenyans pay final tribute to former president mawai kibaki African leaders attend a state funeral service on Friday.
Kibaki, whose death was announced last Friday, has been praised KenyaPresent leader as a respected statesman. He was 90 years old.
Officials declared Friday a public holiday in honor of Kibaki, who served twice as president from 2002 to 2013.
President of Kenya, South Africa and South Sudan Among the dignitaries who attended the state funeral in the capital, Nairobi.
Hundreds of Kenyans stood by the side of the road leading a military procession to the National Stadium, where thousands had gathered since morning.
“This is the second time I’ve seen something like this. It’s sad but very colorful,” said Daya Vairaimua street vendor.
Kibaki will be buried at his ancestral home in central Kenya on Saturday.
Before becoming president in 2002, Kibaki He had served as Minister of Finance, Deputy Speaker and the Official Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. He was often seen as a gentleman in a country full of more aggressive politicians.
Kibaki’s re-election to a second term in 2007 dented his reputation as his victory was disputed by his rival Raila Odinga.
Odinga insisted that the election results had been rigged and that he had in fact won the election.
Hundreds of people died in the weeks of ethnic violence that followed.
Amid the standoff, fighting erupted along Kenyan tribal lines that forced more than 600,000 people from their homes. The violence shattered Kenya’s status as a beacon of stability in East Africa.
The international community led by the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan A delicate power-sharing deal was eventually struck between Kibaki and Odinga, who settled for a new role as Prime Minister of Kenya.
In the wake of the violence, Kibaki oversaw a new constitution for Kenya, intended to decentralize powers and ease continuing ethnic tensions during the election season.
The new constitution was praised as having some of the most progressive human rights provisions in the world.
Kibaki, whose death was announced last Friday, has been praised KenyaPresent leader as a respected statesman. He was 90 years old.
Officials declared Friday a public holiday in honor of Kibaki, who served twice as president from 2002 to 2013.
President of Kenya, South Africa and South Sudan Among the dignitaries who attended the state funeral in the capital, Nairobi.
Hundreds of Kenyans stood by the side of the road leading a military procession to the National Stadium, where thousands had gathered since morning.
“This is the second time I’ve seen something like this. It’s sad but very colorful,” said Daya Vairaimua street vendor.
Kibaki will be buried at his ancestral home in central Kenya on Saturday.
Before becoming president in 2002, Kibaki He had served as Minister of Finance, Deputy Speaker and the Official Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. He was often seen as a gentleman in a country full of more aggressive politicians.
Kibaki’s re-election to a second term in 2007 dented his reputation as his victory was disputed by his rival Raila Odinga.
Odinga insisted that the election results had been rigged and that he had in fact won the election.
Hundreds of people died in the weeks of ethnic violence that followed.
Amid the standoff, fighting erupted along Kenyan tribal lines that forced more than 600,000 people from their homes. The violence shattered Kenya’s status as a beacon of stability in East Africa.
The international community led by the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan A delicate power-sharing deal was eventually struck between Kibaki and Odinga, who settled for a new role as Prime Minister of Kenya.
In the wake of the violence, Kibaki oversaw a new constitution for Kenya, intended to decentralize powers and ease continuing ethnic tensions during the election season.
The new constitution was praised as having some of the most progressive human rights provisions in the world.