Former first Lady Lucy Kibaki has died
Lucy Kibaki died at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London early Tuesday morning, a few days after she was flown to the United Kingdom from the Nairobi Hospital where she had been admitted for several weeks.
Lucy, who was the wife of former president Mwai Kibaki, died aged 76 having been born in 1940.
She was Kenya’s First Lady from 2002 to 2013.
The announcement about her demise was made by President Uhuru Kenyatta who sent a message of condolence to the Kibaki family.
“It is with deep sense of sadness and loss that I have learnt of the untimely death of the Former First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Lucy Kibaki. She passed away early this morning while undergoing treatment in Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London.” Read a statement from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Her Excellency will be remembered for her immense contribution in the development of our country. Especially notable was her Excellency’s virtues of leadership and commitment to improving the well-being of the ordinary Kenyans particularly her efforts in tackling HIV/AIDS which will remain an inspiration to many,” President Kenyatta said in the statement.
The former First Lady has been in out of hospital for several months now, since going out of the public limelight before former President Mwai Kibaki got out of power in 2013 at the end of his second five year term.
She was born in Mukurwe-ini to the Rev. John Kagai and Rose Nyachomba, in the Mount Kenya.
She schooled at Alliance Girls High School, then trained as a teacher, and rose up to the post of principal in a teacher-training college in Kiambu.
She met Mwai Kibaki in 1960. The couple married in 1962.
She is survived by her husband Mwai Kibaki and four children Judy Wanjiku, Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagai, and Tony Githinji.
She will be remembered for her no-nonsense attitude, having been feared by State House staff, ministers and politicians when she was a tenant at the house on the hill.
“On behalf of all Kenyans and my Government, I convey heartfelt condolences and encouragement to His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki, family and friends. May the Almighty God rest her soul in Everlasting Peace.” The president’s statement concluded.