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Senior citizens travel from far and wide to view leader’s body

Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 05:42 | By

Elderly citizens, a majority with a word to tell about former President Mwai Kibaki, yesterday thronged Parliament Buildings to pay their last respects.

The elderly men and women said they travelled from different counties to Nairobi to view the body of the man they hold dear for having helped them directly or indirectly.

On Monday, mourners at Parliament comprised mainly of the youth and middle-aged men.

During the second day of public viewing of the third President’s body, thousands of Kenyans continued to flock Parliament Buildings where the body has been lying in state.

Maina Watho, 72, from Lamu, said he had travelled all the way to honour Kibaki whom he credits for the issuance of title deeds to squatters in the Coast region.

“I have come all the way to bid farewell to Kibaki for his input in ensuring positive change for our economy and having ordered the start of issuance of title deeds in our region which has been a major problem,” said Watho.

Free school

Ruth Muthoni, 74, said she travelled from Embu county to see the man who, she said, changed her grandchildren’s lives by introducing free primary education.

“It was Kibaki who came to the rescue of my grandchildren. They would not have attended school were it not for the free primary education he introduced. May God take him in open hands,” prayed Muthoni.

Rashid Amani, 68, from Kwale said: “I have come to mourn our hero who served with humility, a man of few words but much actions. I will forever miss him.”

Unlike the first day when the doors were opened for viewing at 10am, yesterday the Speaker’s Walk was unlocked a few minutes after 7am.

The procession left the Lee Funeral Home at around 6:20am and may leave earlier on the final viewing day tomorrow. Members of Parliament are scheduled to hold a special sitting to eulogise the former President.

Security has been beefed up along City Hall Way and Parliament Road, the entry points to Parliament.

Best manager

Personnel from the National Youth Service (NYS) were at hand to search mourners using metal detectors to prevent prohibited items from reaching the venue.

As it was the rule on the first day of viewing, mourners were prohibited from taking images and videos of the former President’s body.

Those overwhelmed by grief were attended to by personnel from the St John Ambulance.

Among the dignitaries who viewed the body yesterday was the Nairobi Azimio governor candidate Polycarp Igathe.

Addressing the press after viewing the body, Igathe described the former President as a humble, impactful politician who was the best public service manager the country has ever had.

“I and my running mate Prof Philip Kaloki intend to serve Nairobi as Kibaki did. He was our mentor,” he said.

He continued: “I studied his life … and interacted with him as a young member of his Democratic Party. He didn’t have any small talk, he was focused. We have the challenge to follow in his shoes.”

He also revealed that he and his team had postponed their campaigns to show respect to the former President adding that the vote hunt will resume next week after Kibaki’s burial.

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