What President Kibaki will be remembered for

 

Former President Mwai Kibaki died on Friday at his home in Kerugoya.

President Uhuru Kenyatta made the announcement in a televised national address.

President Mwai Kibaki during the Kenyatta Day Celebrations at Nyayo Stadium. President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced the he past on today aged 90yrs.
Image: Photo/ Fredrick Omondi

His rule 

• Kibaki had previously served as the fourth Vice-President of Kenya for ten years from 1978 to 1988 under President Daniel Arap Moi.
• He served as Kenyan president between 2002 and 2013. He was elected under the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (NARC)
• President Kibaki will be remembered for his style of ruling which was a low-key publicity averse but highly intelligent and competent technocrat.
• His presidency set itself the main task of reviving the country's economy after years of stagnation.
• Being an economist and finance minister in the 1970s, he ensured that Kenya was well managed, competent, and much transformed during his tenure.
• During his reign, Kenya’s economy in the Kibaki years experienced a major turnaround.
• The GDP growth picked up from a low 0.6% (real −1.6%) in 2002 to 3% in 2003, 4.9% in 2004, 5.8% in 2005, 6% in 2006 and 7% 2007.

  After the post-election chaos and Global Financial Crisis—2008 (1.7%) and 2009 (2.6%), the economy then recovered to 5% in 2010 and 5% in 2011.

• He focused on the growth of the country, concentrating on the neglected and largely underdeveloped arid and semi-arid areas in the Northern parts of Kenya.
• During his tenure, Kibaki oversaw Kenya’s growth of infrastructure and other projects like the Thika Super Highway and the renewal of major towns and cities across the country.

Kibaki introduced free education in 2003
Image: ANDREW KASUKU

• He introduced the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in 2003 which was designed to support constituency level and grassroots development projects particularly aimed to combat poverty at the grassroots.
• Through the CDF, borehole digging and water projects across the country were initiated, while the health and education facilities across the country grew. CDF was the first step toward devolution.
• Kibaki oversaw the creation of Kenya’s vision 2030, a long term development plan aimed at raising the GDP growth to 10 per cent and transforming Kenya into a middle-income country by 2030.
• Kibaki introduced free primary Education in 2003; which brought over 1 million children who would not have been able to afford school the chance to attend.
•  The initiative received positive attention, including praise from Bill Clinton, who would travel to Kenya to meet Kibaki.

• In his regime, Kenya’s dependence on western aid reduced and Kenya started relying on internally generated resources such as increased tax revenue collection.
• Relations with China, Japan, and other non-western powers improved and expanded remarkably and they became important economic factors.
• Kibaki oversaw the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution - praised as one of the most progressive in the world.
• Kibaki was  the longest-serving MP in Kenyan history (1963-2013)
• Vice President for 10 years (1978-1988)
• He has been a Cabinet Minister for 35 years (1966-1991)
• Leader of Official Opposition for five years (1997-2002)
• He was the highest-paid individual among serving and retired public servants as of 2021
• There is a road in Dar Es Salaam named in his honour
• The retired President has been known for his dislike for petty politics and gossip of any form
• He has a bi-metallic 40-shilling coin with the portrait of him that was issued in 2003 to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of independence (1963–2003).
• Oversaw the re-introduction of free primary education in 2003
• He was the only president that never dressed publicly  in military regalia 
• One of the largest landowners in Kenya with farms in Nanyuki, Mweiga, Rimuruti, Bahati
• Kibaki had Seven honorary degrees, a honorary degree recognizes and appreciates those who have made significant contributions to society, the state, and the University. He has doctrate degrees from the school of law, science and education.

H.E. Mwai Kibaki, President of Kenya (2002 – 2013) and Patron of the Kenya Golf Union, welcoming Tobs, Chairman of the Kenya Golf Marketing Alliance (KGMA) at State House Nairobi on 24 April 2003.
Image: COURTESY

Hobbies and marriage

• In his active years, he was a regular golf player - a sport he discovered at Mangu High School
• Kibaki was a longtime resident of Muthaiga where he had two homes.
• He was also a Member of Muthaiga and Nyeri Golf Clubs

Former first Lady Lucy Kibaki arriving for a function.PHOTO/FILE

• President Kibaki was married to Lucy Muthoni for 55 years from 1961 until her death in 2016.
• They have four children: Judy Wanjiku, Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagai, and Tony Githinji.
• They also have several grandchildren: Joy Jamie Marie, Rachael Muthoni, Mwai Junior and Krystina Muthoni.
• In 2004, the media reported that Kibaki has a second spouse, whom he allegedly married under customary law, Mary Wambui, and a daughter, Wangui Mwai.
• He was known for his love of Choma goat ribs. 
• His childhood ambition was to become a soldier
• Illness
•  
• On 21 August 2016, Kibaki was taken to Karen Hospital, and later flew to South Africa for specialized treatment.
• On 15th November President Kibaki celebrated his 90th  birthday with friends and family at a private event.
• He has survived three strokes - 1983, 2003, and in 2016. 

As Kenya’s third president, Kibaki is remembered for growing Kenya's economy and for his commitment to expanding the country's infrastructure during his tenure.

Other Kenyans said they miss Kibaki's tenure as he proved to be a statesman who sacrificed a lot for the betterment of this nation.       BY THE STAR