There are people with great mouths who say much and do little, and there are greats like Mwai Kibaki who said little and did much. That is how I choose to remember Kenya’s third president.
His silence was however deafening when the 2007-8 clashes tore us apart as a nation. It’s like a big bloody blob on the fabric of his legacy. Something that we can’t ignore or forget.
But when you look at what he did for Kenya, there’s a lot that made me want to meet him one day and shake his hand.
2010 Constitution Promulgation Ceremony
My first attempt was about 12 years ago, at Uhuru Park during the Promulgation Ceremony.
The nature of the event meant that security was tight so there was no getting within 50 metres of Kibaki.
Throughout the ceremony, Kibaki wore a smile that spoke about the sense of accomplishment he had. After an aborted attempt a couple of years before, he’d managed to deliver a new constitution for Kenya. I think it is the same feeling one has after trans-nighting and handing in a project before a deadline.
2012 Jamhuri Day 2012
My next encounter with Kibaki was at the last Jamhuri Day celebrations he officiated as President, Kenya’s 49th.
The crowds at Nyayo National Stadium were here to bid him farewell as retirement beckoned.
As the guest of honour, we all had to get to the Stadium before time and wait for President Kibaki. I took the opportunity to capture the beautiful formations that are unique to National Celebrations.
Kenya Army personnel on their last march past Mwai Kibaki as their Commander in Chief.
Catherine Kamau’s performance of a poem in praise of President Mwai Kibaki was one of the highlights. One of the verses was ‘Should I go and kiss Kibaki?’ to which the crowds shouted a resounding ‘Yes!!’.
Kibaki’s address had a sense of finality. It read like a list of achievements after a 10-year leadership that was coloured by economic development and stained by corruption and clashes.
Kwaheri Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki rested on Friday 22nd April 2022 after leading a quiet life in retirement.
I will remember him as Kenya’s greatest president, yet.
Great leader he was. I will personally miss his leadership.
I last met him in 2014 in Consolata shrine westlands where he used to attend mass every Sunday.