Kenya’s third president Emilio Mwai Kibaki is dead.
The announcement was made by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday from State House, Nairobi.
“It is my sorrowful duty to announce to the nation the passing on of H.E. Emilio Mwai Kibaki, the Third President of the Republic of Kenya. H.E. Mwai Kibaki lived a dedicated life of public service. We salute a notable father figure in the chronicles of our Nation. A leader who strove so hard and accomplished so much for his country. A nation he so deeply cherished and served with commitment and an unbending will to improve the lives of our people,” he said.
“As we mourn this immeasurable loss, we recall with eternal gratitude President Kibaki’s patriotic journey in service to his Country, which can be traced way back to Kenya’s fight for liberation,” he added.
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The head of state declared a period of mourning, including the flying of flags at half-mast until a state funeral is held for the fallen retired president.
“We remember the values by which he lived, the ideals he embraced, his dignity and diligence, his candor and concern for the well being of all Kenyans,” Uhuru said, adding that he was a brilliant debater.
“His contributions as minister of finance and vice president saw Kenya’s economy grow steadily fueled by a commodities boom as well as fiscal and monetary policies that were the backbone of his economic philosophy.”
Kibaki who was the only surviving former head of state passed on at the age of 90.
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He served as Kenya’s third president from 2002 to April 2013, when the Constitution obliged him to step down at the end of his second and final term.
He succeeded the late Daniel arap Moi, who served as president from 1978 to 2002, after Jomo Kenyatta, the country’s founding leader, died in office.
Kibaki is survived by four children Judy Wanjiku, Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagi and Tony Githinji.
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