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On December, 30, 2002, Mwai Kibaki took power with a rallying call on turning Kenya into a “working nation”.

His tenure in office was rocked by high political temperatures and controversies, but still, his economic performance and leadership style wowed Kenyans of all walks of life. 

In several quarters he is known as the “man who changed Kenyans money bag”.

He also excited Kenyans through the use of hilarious phrases. His witty remarks and humorous style of leadership became the ‘talk of the nation.’

His speeches were often marked by phrases to hammer home important points. Below are some of his memorable witty remarks; In 2004, while at a function, Kibaki made humorous remarks on his presidential escort vehicle that was trying to avoid rain. In the middle of his speech he said, “Hii mvua ni kidogo. Hata gari yangu naona inaitoroka bure. Mwambie arudi nyuma. Ni pumbavu kabisa”

Later in 2005 at the height of cattle rustling activities in the Rift Valley, he castigated those involved in the act telling them: “Kweli huna maana gani duniani, kama kazi yako ni wizi wa ng’ombe. Wewe ni binadamu ya mavi ya kuku.”

Campaign hecklers

In 2007, he warned campaign hecklers who used to disrupt his rallies as he campaigned for a second term. He said: “Na usije ukiwa popote, ukishakula pombe. Ukweli ni kwamba hakuna haja wewe kula pombe ndio ukanene juu ya mtu wako. Hiyo wacha,na mkule pombe mkiwa huko peke yenu.”

In his characteristic humour, Kibaki had nailed a point home on family planning in 2010 when he advised Kenyans on the importance of the practice. “Sio lazima kila siku, siku ya pili, siku ya tatu unaproduce mtoto, what the hell…..hapaaaana. Hiyo ni kukosa adabu,” he said. 

In May 2012, Kibaki warned the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), which had penetrated the coastal region under the banner, ‘Pwani si Kenya,’ telling them, “Ukiwa unataka fujo ndio….tokea. Tunataka kukuonaa. Hatutaki kuogopa yeyote.”

MRC was founded in 1999 to address political and economic discrimination against coastal peoples. It had morphed into a civil society movement championing the disinherited indigenous people of the Coast and demanding secession.

 During that year too, voter registration had kicked off in readiness for the 2017 General Election. As a rallying call for mass voter registration Kibaki told Kenyans, “If you just hang around and not register, you are useless. No…It is true. You cannot be of any use.”

He also loathed at indiscipline among teachers and warned the ministry of Education for laxity on teachers discipline noting: “You are letting discipline go down allowing some teachers to drink too much. Oooooh yes! When we see so many drunkard teachers in so many schools, I am telling you. You are educating our own nation by mistake.”

In May 2013, while eulogising Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo in Mbooni village, Kibaki once again humorously cheered the mourners during his speech, “I came a little bit late for no any other good reason. I delayed on the road just talking to people…”