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Mama Kibaki served people with highest integrity: JK

Retired President Jakaya Kikwete consoles former Kenyan leader Mwai Kibaki whose wife, Lucy, passed away on April 26 in a London hospital after a long illness. She was interred yesterday in Othaya, Nyeri County. PHOTO | NMG

What you need to know:

  • Former First Lady Lucy Kibaki touched the lives of many Kenyans,  retired President Jakaya Kikwete said at a funeral in Othaya, Nyeri County, yesterday

 

Dar es Salaam. Kenya’s departed former First Lady Lucy Kibaki served people with the highest degree of integrity, retired President Jakaya Kikwete  said.

She touched the lives of many Kenyans, Mr Kikwete said. “According to her biography, she served the nation as a teacher, first lady and advocate of agricultural development. Hopefully, her services to the nation have touched the lives of most Kenyans.”

Mr Kikwete was speaking in Othaya, Nyeri, at a funeral broadcast live by KBC TV yesterday.

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He represented President John Magufuli at the ceremony.

Mr Kikwete said Mama Kibaki had played an important role in developing Kenya and that the role she played determined the success made by retired President Mwai Kibaki in the political arena before and after independence.

He said Tanzanians were greatly shocked and saddened by her sudden death and that they joined the Kenyans in honouring the commendable contributions she made.

“God has decided that she leave the world. What we’re supposed to do is to pray that she rests in eternal peace,” he said.  President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenyans should remember her for speaking strongly against evils and promoting human rights and justice.

President Kenyatta said Mama Lucy contributed immensely to remarkable development achievements made during the Kibaki administration. “Men should always remember that wives contribute greatly towards successes,’ he said.

Mama Lucy died at South Kensington in London, UK, on April 26, 2016 after a long illness.

Over 2,000 dignitaries attended the requiem mass celebrated by Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Peter Kairo at the Othaya Approved School ground.

Deputy president William Ruto and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta were among the people who attended the funeral. The body arrived at the school ground at 10.43am  yesterday from Lee Funeral Home.

After the mass, the body was then taken to former President Kibaki’s Othaya home and fewer than 300 guests joined the family at the burial site.

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