President Kibaki reception in Othaya, final sendoff!

President Kibaki was true to the expression that there is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved.

In death people from all walks of life assembled to give President Kibaki a decent send-off.

With military precision Kibaki’s body would travel by road, using for the last time, the Thika Superhighway one of his legacy projects.

By the roadside many waited with bated breath, in different sections of the road, some cheered, others watched and a few other went about their day today activities.

The military would occasionally drive in slow speed, just to allow the crowds to have a glimpse.

The requiem mass was not a dull one, occasionally a few interesting snippets of Kibaki’s life would be re-lived.

Jimmy Kibaki, the culprit of Kibaki’s love and toughness, would nostalgically recall of the father-son moments he had with his father and President.

“At one point, dad told me, “You keep going out and coming back at 2am or 3am. Only crooks and vagabonds parade at odd hours of the night,” recalled Jimmy Kibaki.

Ambassador Solomon Karanja on his part eulogised President Kibaki as a true patriot who enjoyed life with equal measure.

He narrated how they would sneak back to Makerere University after a night of having fun.

In amazement, Kibaki would still lecture the next day at 8am.  Kibaki’s secret was not to sleep at all.

“How we used to go to clubs with Mwai Kibaki during campus days was interesting, I had to ask him how he was able to lecture the following morning.

He told me that once he got back to the room he never slept at all,” Ambassador Solomon Karanja recalled.

Archbishop Anthony Muheria, on his part, urged politicians to emulate President Kibaki and be more respectful to each other. He further urged all leaders to maintain restraint ahead of the August 9 elections.

“Kibaki would never say any remarks against his competitors; he always joked, but was respectful. We need a special sanitiser to disinfect our toxic mouths,” said Bishop Muheria.

After political leaders and family gave their tributes, President Kibaki’s body was ferried by the military to their family home for the final rites.

The ceremony was a blend of military rituals and the Catholic church procedures.

At the final resting place President Kibaki was accorded a military sendoff which included a 19-gun salute.

After which the military lowered the casket. The family,  President Uhuru Kenyatta and a few invited guests then threw in soil on the coffin as a symbol that the deceased has returned to where he came from.

Finally, a cross was mounted on the grave signifying that whoever lies there was a Christian.