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By John Ikani (Heritage Times)
Former
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, who served as the country’s third President has
died at the age of 90.
His
death was announced Friday by his successor, incumbent Kenyan President Uhuru
Kenyatta, who described him as inspirational.
“It
is a sad day for us as a country. We have lost a great leader,” Kenyatta said
in an address on state television.
“President
Kibaki will forever be remembered as a gentleman in Kenya’s politics. A
brilliant debater whose eloquence, wit and charm won the day time and time
again.”
He
ordered a period of national mourning until sunset on the day Kibaki is to be
buried, with all flags to be flown at half-mast.
Kibaki
served as President from 2002 to 2013, winning elections against Kenyatta and
ending four decades of one-party rule.
As
a leader, Kibaki, one of the country’s richest men, ushered in economic reforms
and a new constitution but failed to deliver on promises to combat corruption.
His tenure was marred by the disputed 2007 polls that led to deadly violence.
His
disputed re-election in 2007 against Raila Odinga, who accused him of rigging
the outcome, led to street clashes and the deaths of more than 1,100 people.
But
Kibaki was also hailed in 2010 for shaping a new constitution for Kenya and
improving social services.
Kenyatta
also praised the late President for transforming the country.
“The
late former president’s administration conceptualized and spearheaded a
transformation in crucial sectors such as education through the globally lauded
free primary education program, infrastructure developments in transport and
energy and the increasing the availability and the access to health care for
his fellow Kenyans,” Kenyatta said.
At
the end of two terms, Kibaki handed power to Kenyatta, who was elected in 2013
and retired from politics.
Cyprian
Fernandes: I knew Mwai Kibaki as a Parliamentary Secretary in the first Kenya
Cabinet and a little later as the country’s Finance Minister. He was one of my favourite
mentors and we spent a lot of time debating various aspects of the annual budgets
he had fashioned for the country. In a way, he schooled me in his economic
methodology. I was fortunate enough to meet so many very special Kenyans from
1960 but Mwai Kibaki will always remain a very special memory. Rest in Peace,
Lala salama.
BBC: Many
Kenyans are expressing a real sense of loss and regard Mr Kibaki as the best
president Kenya has had since independence.
He
was a sharp economist who set the country on a path of economic growth. He held
a number of senior positions in treasury and government in his political career
that spanned decades.
Politically,
however, he was regarded as a non-confrontational fence-sitter and opportunist.
He opposed the introduction of multiparty democracy but jumped ship after the
constitution was amended. He then embraced it, formed his own political party
and, 10 years later, went on to win the election as head of an opposition coalition.
Both
traits would be seen during his tenure as president. Kenya recorded one of its
highest rates of GDP growth during his first term, before the violence of the
2007 election severely dented his legacy.
As
well as his economic record, one of his biggest achievements was introducing
free primary education to Kenya.
Under
his watch, Kenya also gained a new constitution, after it was overwhelmingly
approved in a national referendum in 2010. It was billed by some at the time as
the most important political event in Kenya's history since it gained
independence from Britain in 1963.
It
introduced a more decentralised political system and limited presidential
powers.
His
biggest failure was the fight against corruption. He'd promised to fight it,
but his government was rocked by major corruption scandals.
But
the 2007-2008 election violence after a disputed vote was the worst in the
country's history and the lowest point of his presidency. Not only were more
than 1,200 lives lost, but more than half a million people were forced from
their homes.
During
the violence there were hundreds of rapes and more than 100,000 properties were
destroyed, according to the International Criminal Court (ICC). It charged
leading politicians with orchestrating the violence but neither Mr Kibaki nor
opposition leader Raila Odinga was among them.
The
electoral commission, under tight police security, declared Mr Kibaki the
winner of the vote, although Mr Odinga alleged widespread fraud. President
Kibaki was sworn in hurriedly for the second term as the country descended into
violence.
An
investigation led by former South African judge Johann Krieglar determined that
both sides had participated in electoral malpractices in different regions
which made it impossible to determine who had won that election.
The
violence was eventually ended in a power-sharing deal brokered by former UN
secretary general Kofi Annan, which saw Mr Odinga become prime minister.
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