Mwai Kibaki, Kenya's third president, was laid to rest in his hometown of Othaya in 2012 after a state funeral featuring military honors and attendance from three foreign leaders. The former leader, who governed from 2002 to 2013, died April 22 following a prolonged illness, according to his son Jimmy.
The funeral procession departed Nairobi's Lee Funeral Home at 7 a.m., with Kibaki's body transported to Nyeri for burial. A state service at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday drew South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, and Ethiopian envoy Sahle-Work Zewde, alongside Kenyan officials.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II expressed condolences, praising Kibaki's "lifelong record of service" to Kenya. Her message to President Uhuru Kenyatta highlighted his leadership legacy, noting the nation's loss of a "great statesman."
Kibaki's presidency saw economic initiatives like Vision 2030, which spurred infrastructure and social reforms. However, his tenure faced challenges, including 2007's post-election violence that killed over 1,000 people. His health declined after a 2002 car accident, with frequent hospitalizations in later years.
The burial in Othaya, 50 miles north of Nairobi, concluded a week of mourning for the leader who succeeded Daniel arap Moi and preceded Kenyatta's current term.
