EAC eulogises President Kibaki as a true East African, pan-Africanist

East African Community has eulogised Former President Mwai Kibaki as a true East African and pan-Africanist who believed not just in an integrated and prosperous EAC, but in an African continent with seamless trade across its borders stretching from the Cape to the Mediterranean, and from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. 

East African Community Secretariat conveys  deepest sympathy to the family, Government and People of the Republic of Kenya  following demise of His Excellency Mwai Kibaki , former President of Kenya  today on 22nd April , 2022 pic.twitter.com/xedo433p3K

— East African Community (@jumuiya) April 22, 2022

The death of the third president of Kenya, President Mwai Kibaki was officially announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday afterooon at State House Nairobi.

During the announcement, President Kenyatta declared a period of national mourning from Friday until sunset on the day of his interment.

In a statement, EAC eulogised the late President Kibaki saying, the departed Head of State grew up as an East African studying at the University College of East Africa (now Makerere University) after high school in his native Kenya.

“He would later teach economics briefly at Makerere in the early 1960s before returning to Kenya to take up a position in the independence government.” The statement read.

Adding that: “Kibaki also served for many years as Kenya’s Minister for Finance and was therefore instrumental in the implementation of economic policy under the first EAC.”

As Kenya’s third President, Kibaki was instrumental in moving forward the agenda of the re-established EAC, signing the Customs Union Protocol in 2005 and the Common Market Protocol in 2009.

The EAC Secretariat also noted that, Kibaki administration did a lot of preparatory negotiations for the the East African Monetary Union Protocol that was signed in 2013.

“The former President believed in the dream of a Political Federation of East Africa with a bigger market that would ensure prosperity for all East Africans. ” Said EAC.

A key legacy of the departed President is massive infrastructure development including highway linking the Republic of Kenya to her EAC neighbours specifically for purposes of promoting trade and industrialisation.

During his tenure, The Secretariat notes: “As President, Kibaki also came up with policies that had ramifications in the region and beyond. He oversaw the revitalization of the civil service, spurred both local and foreign direct, investment and rejuvenated economic growth through increase tax revenues. He was a firm believer in coming up with African solutions to African problems. ”

According to the statement by EAC, President Kibaki midwifed the birth of the new Constitution for Kenya in 2010 to secure the countries gains in the political, economic and socio-cultural sectors.

“With the demise of Former President Mwai Kibaki, the Community has therefore lost an illustrious son who believed in and always upheld the ideals of regional integration. ” EAC eulogised.

Kibaki died at the age of 90.

The former President will be accorded a state funeral with full military honours and protocols being rendered and observed.

Also read https://www.kbc.co.ke/former-president-mwai-kibaki-dies-aged-90/