A section of leaders and Kisumu residents join the rest of the country in mourning former president Mwai Kibaki’s death.
The announcement of his death was done by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday afternoon.
Leading the residents in paying tribute, Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o stated that he learnt about his death through social media.
“It is with deep shock and pain that I have just learnt through the media about the death of former President Emilio Mwai Kibaki,” he stated.
In a press statement released to the media, Nyong’o stated that those who served under Kibaki as ministers or worked with him to get KANU out of power twenty years ago have always talked about him with near romantic nostalgia.
“My most sincere condolences go to the family who will miss this exceptional gentleman and father with more pain than others can possibly imagine. We pray that the good Lord will give them strength to go through these trying times, “read part of the statement.
He further added that only a few people know that the former President consoled the family of his late brother Prof Aggrey Nyong’o when he passed on after a tragic road accident in 2002.
“On behalf of myself, my family and that of the County as a whole, May the soul of Rais Wetu Mpendwa Mwai Kibaki rest in eternal peace,” he said.
One resident James Owuor lauded Kibaki for leading the country well and also stated that during his time, life was not as hard as it is now when prices of all commodities have doubled.
Another resident Mary Akinyi noted that during Kibaki’s term, corruption was not rampant as it is now.