Lucy Kibaki's body to arrive on Sunday

President Mwai Kibaki and his late wife Lucy Kibaki wave to supporters in Nairobi on November 15, 2007. The former First Lady died on April 26, 2016 while being treated at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in South West London. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr Lazarus Amayo, said the flight will leave London at 5.55pm on Saturday and land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 4.30am on Sunday.
  • The Kenyan High Commission in London has also announced that it will Friday host a prayer meeting with members of the Kibaki family who had accompanied Mama Lucy.
  • Mr Aggrey Kikaya, a Kenyan-born engineer living in London, said Mama Lucy will be remembered for being a great family protector.

LONDON

The body of the former First Lady Lucy Kibaki will be flown from London to Nairobi aboard a Kenya Airways flight.

Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr Lazarus Amayo, said the flight will leave London at 5.55pm on Saturday and land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 4.30am on Sunday.

The former First Lady died on Tuesday while being treated at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in South West London.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the passing of the former First Lady on Tuesday morning.

On Thursday, a government statement said that once the body arrives, there will be three days of national mourning and flags throughout the country will fly at half-staff.

And starting Friday, condolence books will be opened at Harambee House, which houses the President’s Office, Parliament buildings.

Other condolence books will be placed at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Holy Family Basilica, Consolata Shrine, Westlands and all 47 county headquarters.

“A national working committee comprising members of the Kibaki family and government officials has been set up and is responsible for ensuring that the former First Lady is given a befitting send-off,” said a statement sent to the Nation by Government Spokesman Eric Kiraithe.

It went on: “The national working committee is also responsible for releasing timely and coordinated information of interest to the public.”

The Kenyan High Commission in London has also announced that it will Friday host a prayer meeting with members of the Kibaki family who had accompanied Mama Lucy.

Kenyans living in the UK have been invited to the 5.45pm-7pm event.

On Thursday, Kenyans living in the UK, ambassadors from various countries and friends of Kenya visited the Kenyan High Commission to sign the condolence book.

AN EXEMPLARY LADY

Ms Elizabeth Kang’ethe, a former Mayor in the Borough of Newham in the UK, said: “Mama Lucy is gone but will be remembered in so many different ways. First as a woman leader in politics. I will remember her for inspiration. She encouraged women to be pushy and aggressive in a nice way in order to take on leadership positions and so I have done exactly that and I’m still going on. Thank you mum.”

Ms Kang’ethe said her father, Mr Richard Kang’ethe, worked with the former First Lady when she was a teacher at Kambui Intermediate School and that her campaign against HIV/Aids cannot be forgotten.

Mr Aggrey Kikaya, a Kenyan-born engineer living in London, said Mama Lucy will be remembered for being a great family protector.

Mr Karanja Njiiri, popularly known in London as Mister Seed, was among those who sent their condolences to the Kibaki family.

Another Kenyan, Mr Thomas Musau, said: “Mama Lucy was a no-nonsense lady who was focused on putting family first and the interest of local mwananchi.”

Ms Thuku Benzinge, also known as Miss Scuba Kenya, said: “We can definitely celebrate the legacy that she left with all her work in leadership.”

Additional reporting by Gabriel Otach, also in London