Security heightened in Othaya as burial service is underway

 

Mourners are still streaming in at Othaya approved grounds in Nyeri in readiness for late president Mwai Kibaki's send-off

They started arriving at the grounds as early as 5 am Saturday.

"We started arriving at the grounds at around five in the morning so as to bid the former president and our long-serving MP farewell," said Paul Nderitu from Othaya.

"I wanted to take a seat in a strategic place where I can easily follow the proceedings."

Over 15000 mourners are expected at the grounds.

Security officers were present to frisk members of the public arriving at the venue as NYS officers issued programmes as well well s distributed breakfast to the mourners.

They included sodas, water and bread.

Two more gates have been added to the grounds to make the flow of members of the public seamless bringing the total number of gates to three.

The two new gates were being used by members of the public while one near the dais is reserved for VIPs.

There was also a heavy presence of security officers in Nyeri town, the venue of the mass, in Othaya town and at Kibaki's Kanyange residence where he will be laid to rest.

The body is expected to be taken around Nyeri town for residents whom he has served for close to forty years to bid farewell to him.

It will then be ferried to the venue of the mass and later the final resting place.

Public address mounted vehicles Friday night made rounds in Nyeri town where residents were informed of the route the motorcade will be taking and urged to turn up to bid him farewell.

Nyeri leaders led by speaker John Kaguchia had requested the committee or agonizing the funeral to consider bringing the body by road so as to give people who were unable to travel to Nairobi to view the body to body farewell to the late president.    BY THE STAR