Lucy died with her precious family by her London bedside

The country was on Tuesday plunged into mourning after former First Lady Lucy Kibaki died at a hospital in London, where she had been taken for treatment last week.

Family sources said a phone call came in the morning to deliver the sad news of Mrs Kibaki’s death while receiving specialised treatment at Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London.

At 11.38am, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a statement announcing the death of the former First Lady.

“Her excellency has been unwell for the last month and has been receiving treatment here in Kenya and subsequently in the United Kingdom,” he said in the statement, which was also circulated through social media.

Former President Mwai Kibaki, his daughter Judy and son Anthony were at Mrs Kibaki’s bedside when she died at about 4am.

“Mama Lucy Kibaki, the former First Lady and wife of Kenya’s third President Mwai Kibaki passed on early this morning at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London. We shall keep you informed as further arrangements concerning this matter evolve,” said a statement by Dr Ngare Gituku, the retired President’s spokesman.

Dr Gituku said consultations were ongoing for preparations to fly her body back to the country from London for a State funeral.

“Not much is coming from London but people are putting their heads together because of the enormity of the task ahead,” he said.

Mrs Kibaki was admitted in intensive care at Nairobi Hospital on March 11, 2016. Ten days later, her daughter Judy said that the former First Lady was responding well to treatment. “She is improving,” she told journalists without elaborating.

Speaking about the admission to hospital, Dr Gituku sought to allay fears that she was in the ICU and described it as a routine check-up, “the kind that your mother and my mother would routinely need to undergo from time to time”.

At the time, the hospital invoked doctor/patient confidentiality and declined to divulge any information on the status of Mrs Kibaki’s health.

Yesterday, it came to light that even though the first call informing the family of Mrs Kibaki’s death came in at 7am, the family waited for President Kenyatta to break the sad news at 11.38 am in line with protocol regarding a former First Lady.

“It was only fair because the State was directly involved, that we leave it to them to make the announcement. There was a sense of protocol to be considered,” said a family source.

President Kenyatta said the death of Mrs Kibaki was a big loss to the country and listed the projects she championed, among them the fight against HIV/Aids.

“On behalf of all Kenyans and my Government, I convey my heartfelt condolences and encouragement to his Excellency Mwai Kibaki, family and friends,” said the President in his statement.

A stream of condolences flowed in from leaders, friends and Kenyans who used social media to eulogise the late First Lady.

Mrs Kibaki had not been seen in public for over five years due to ill health, although there was no clear indication of what she was suffering from.

LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

Her last public function was on August 27, 2010 during the promulgation of the Constitution.

At the event, she got on her feet and danced along to the song "Taunet ne lel" (which means “new beginning”) by Emmy Kosgei.

On that day, she wore a black dress with a gold sash and was accompanied by her grandson in a grey suit.

She was not present at the ceremony during which Mr Kibaki handed over power to President Kenyatta on April 9, 2013.

Mr Kibaki at the time remarked that he would have wished that some other members of his family were present but that due to unavoidable circumstances this was not possible.

Mrs Kibaki was among the dignitaries present when President Kibaki took over power from retiring President Daniel arap Moi.