Kibaki Gets a 19-Gun Salute as He is Finally Laid to Rest in Othaya

The late former president Mwai Kibaki has finally been laid to rest at his rural home in Othaya, Nyeri County.

The body of Kibaki, who died on April 22nd at the age of 90, was lowered to the grave at around 6:00 pm on Saturday following a funeral service held at Othaya Approved School Grounds. He was interred next to the grave of his wife Mama Lucy Kibaki.

The service presided over Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria was attended by family members and thousands of mourners, among them President Kenyatta, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Kibaki was accorded a State burial, with full military honors and protocols, including a 19-gun salute and a Kenya Air Force fly-past.

His final journey including a State funeral service at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Friday was undertaken by the military, having served as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces for 10 years.

Kibaki’s body was transported by road from Nairobi to his rural home in Nyeri ahead of his burial. The funeral cortege, escorted by family members and military officers, left Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi at 7:00 am and traversed Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Nyeri counties to give Central Kenya residents an opportunity to bid farewell to the long-serving leader. 

Kibaki, a Makerere University and London School of Economics trained economist, enjoyed a long and highly successful 50-year political career that saw him serve the country in different roles as MP, assistant minister, cabinet minister, vice president, and leader of official opposition before rising to become Kenya’s president.

He served as Kenya’s third president between 2002 and 2013 when he handed over to President Kenyatta whose second and final term ends in August.

Kibaki leaves behind four children; Judy Wanjiku, Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagai, and Tony Githinji.