Friday April 22, 2022
Mwai Kibaki, who ushered in economic reforms and a new
constitution but struggled to tackle widespread corruption as Kenya's third
president from 2003-2013, has died aged 90.
A British-educated economist, Kibaki's unflappable demeanour
concealed political guile that finally won him the presidency after four
decades as lawmaker, government minister and then vice president to his
predecessor, Daniel arap Moi.
Kibaki, whose death was announced President Uhuru Kenyatta,
is credited with reviving Kenya's then ailing economy, but his tenure was
marred by deadly violence that killed more than 1,200 Kenyans following his
disputed re-election in December 2007.
The opposition had been far ahead when journalists were
hurriedly ejected from the election commission. Hours later, Kibaki's win by a
narrow margin was announced. Smoke immediately began rising from fires lit by
protesters.
While announcing Kibaki's death, Kenyatta recalled his long
public service, including being a member of parliament for five decades.
"Kibaki was a quintessential patriot whose legacy of
civic responsibility will continue to inspire generations of Kenyans long into
our future," Kenyatta said in a televised address.
Kenyatta did not state the cause of death but Kibaki has
been ailing for some time, domestic media reported.
Politicians took a break from campaigning for a general
election scheduled for Aug. 9, to mourn Kibaki.
"He stood firmly and laid the foundation for the
economic fruits that Kenya is experiencing today," said Musalia Mudavadi,
who is backing Deputy President William Ruto in the presidential contest.
But Kibaki failed to tackle endemic graft, which remains a
key demand of voters in the upcoming polls that pit Ruto against Raila Odinga,
a former veteran opposition leader now embraced by the political establishment.
Kibaki had also tried to bring peace to regional hotspots,
said Moses Wetengula, who served in the cabinet. "As his foreign minister,
I ran many missions to stabilise Somalia and other pockets of instability
including Congo," Wetangula said.
Kenyan peacekeepers are still serving in southern Somalia.