Fare thee well Kibaki, you left indelible mark
By Editorial.Team, April 25, 2022The passing away on Friday of former President Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki is indeed a great loss to the nation. In ways far more than one, Kibaki was the best that the country has ever produced. He was Kenya’s finest.
During Kibaki’s 10-year tenure as Head of State, Kenya registered tremendous economic growth and development upswing.
Humble, sharp-minded, taciturn and non-controversial, Kibaki was an intellectual powerhouse who promoted democracy and good governance to a level that had never been witnessed before in Africa.
The departed leader represents the positive side of Kenya, the inspirational steps the country has made since becoming a Republic in December 1964. His influence in Education was felt throughout the country and it gave a fair chance to all regardless of background.
He initiated the Free Primary Education programme that has enabled millions of young Kenyans to acquire an education and employment.
Born in 1931, Kibaki died at the age of 90 years. He grew up in rural Othaya, Nyeri county where he went to local schools and later on to the prestigious Mang’u High School before proceeding to the famous Makerere University in Uganda to take his undergraduate studies in Economics after which he went to the prominent London School of Economics for his Master’s degree.
At the dawn of independence, young Kibaki was ripe enough to start serving his country. He was pulled from Makerere where he was a lecturer to take up a job as the Kanu Executive Director in 1962.
It was during his stint at the Treasury that Kibaki etched his name on Kenya’s political scene where he, earlier on, had together with the late Tom Mboya participated in the drafting of the Kanu manifesto, Kenya’s Constitution and the country’s Development Policy.
A brilliant debater and avid reader, Kibaki dutifully served as Kenya’s Vice-President between 1978 and 1989 and later on as Minister for Health.
He joined the Opposition in 1991 upon the return of plural politics as leader of the Democratic Party and became President in 2002.
During his tenure as President, Kibaki promulgated a new – very liberal – Constitution in 2010, promoting freedom of speech, worship, media and human rights to unprecedented levels. He achieved so much within a very short time.
He will surely be missed by one and all. Adios good man Emillio. May your good soul eternally rest in peace.