Justin Muturi to represent Uhuru at Kofi Annan burial

What you need to know:

  • Mr Annan played a key role in mediating a post-election pact between President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga in Kenya in 2008.
  • Mr Annan served as Secretary-General for two full terms from 1997 to 2006.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has nominated National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as his special envoy at the burial of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Ghana on September 13.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Mr Muturi will lead a delegation of senior members of government, legislature and an official representative from the High Commission of the Republic of Kenya in Abuja, Nigeria, which is also accredited to Ghana.

Mr Annan became the first African to serve as Secretary-General for two full terms from 1997 to 2006.

Egypt's Boutros Boutros-Ghali had served one term from 1992 to 1996.

GENOCIDE

Blamed for looking on in the Rwandan genocide in 1994 when he served as head of peacekeeping missions, Mr Annan expressed regret, and later played a key role in mediating a post-election pact between President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga in Kenya in 2008.

Mr Annan died on August 18 in a hospital in Bern, Switzerland, after a short illness.

In his condolence message, President Kenyatta described him as a great son of Africa.

"The Government and the people of Kenya join the people of Africa and the international community in remembering his remarkable service to the world," a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.

"In this regard, the people of Kenya are grateful to him for the critical role he played as a mediator during the 2008 post-election crisis."