Matiang’i: Ex-President’s body will travel by road to Nyeri for burial
By Seth Mwaniki, April 28, 2022
The body of former President Kibaki will be transported by road to Othaya for burial on Saturday.
The National Funeral Steering Committee yesterday said security officials from the National Police Service and other agencies will provide security along the road.
“They have all rehearsed and have been placed at the points where they are going to be. We do not anticipate anything will go wrong,” Interior CS Fred Matiang’i said while giving the committee’s update on the preparations.
The CS said plans for tomorrow’s State funeral and Saturday’s burial were complete.
“We request all members of the public to be seated by 8am because we want to start early so that those who have to travel out of town are able to go back to their homes early enough. The funeral service is expected to end at 1pm,” said Matiang’i (pictured).
The CS, who was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi and senior military and State officials said the funeral programme will be guided by military protocols.
Church mass
“You know the military doesn’t leave anything to chance. Everything is prepared and planned and we have a script by which we are going to conduct ourselves. So I want to ask those who join us on Friday and on Saturday to understand that what we are planning for on the two days is a State funeral which follows a particular protocol. The only other protocol that is allowed is that of the church that is going to conduct the mass,” added Matiang’i.
He said the former President’s family had made particular requests on how they would want the funeral ceremony conducted.
“We would like all of us to respect the family and all the requests they have made,” said the CS without disclosing what the requests were.
Kibaki’s body has been lying in state at Parliament for three days since Monday allowing Kenyans from different parts of the country a chance to pay their last respects.