Kenyans Pay Last Respects to Mwai Kibaki Amid Ugandan Backlash ¶
On April 26, 2022, Kenyans gathered at Parliament buildings to pay their last respects to former President Mwai Kibaki, whose body was lying in state. The ritual, which has been practiced in Kenya since the death of first president Jomo Kenyatta in 1978, involves placing the president's body on a slab for a specified period to allow citizens to pay their respects.
However, the practice has sparked shock and reservations from Ugandans, who view it as a scary and unnecessary ritual. One Ugandan user expressed their concerns on Twitter, stating, 'It should never work anywhere, why do this to a dead man? The dead should be respected.'
Others have defended the practice, citing its transparency and the opportunity for citizens to pay their respects to the deceased. One user suggested that the ritual should be adopted in Uganda as evidence of the president's death.
The practice of lying in state is also observed in Ghana, where former president Jerry Rawlings died in 2020. The ritual has been a subject of debate among Ugandans, with some expressing fear of being seen by others, while others view it as a necessary part of the mourning process.
