Uhuru Declares Three Days of National Mourning, Orders Flags Flown at Half-Mast Following Death of Benjamin Mkapa

President Uhuru has declared three days of national mourning in honor of former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa, who died on Friday.

Uhuru ordered the Kenyan flag and that of the East African Community (EAC) flown at half-mast during the period. This will happen from sunrise Monday, July 27th to sunset on Wednesday, July 29th.

Mkapa, who governed Tanzania between 1995 and 2005, passed away on Friday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.

President Kenyatta described Mkapa as “an outstanding East African who worked tirelessly for the integration, peace, and progress of the region.”

He added that Kenya has lost a close friend and brother who stood with her during some of her darkest moments.

Together with the late Koffi Annan, Mkapa played a key role in the mediation process that ended Kenya’s 2007/2008 post-election violence that led to the death of over 1,000 people while thousands of others were displaced.

Tanzania President John Magufuli who announced the passing of the country’s third president declared a seven-day mourning period, during which all flags will be flown at half-mast.