Kalonzo Musyoka has told off Kenyans saying that he was sidelined during the requiem mass and burial ceremony of Mwai Kibaki.
A number of Kenyans felt bad that Kalonzo was not given an opportunity to eulogize his former boss, having worked as his vice president between 2008-2013.
Politicians went to an extent of politicizing the issue with some saying that that is how the Wiper party leader will be sidelined in the Azimio-OKA Alliance.
Speaking during the burial Mzee Michael Mutuku Nduto, father to Masinga Constituency Wiper candidate David Mutuku, Kalonzo asked Kenyans to stop making Kibaki’s burial a subject of discussion
“Whether I was able or not to speak at his funeral, I had a singular privilege of working with Mzee Kibaki for five years and it was enough for me to have been there at the Nyayo stadium and at Othaya and watch the amazing homily by Bishop Anthony Muheria which says we even need to sanitize our politics. Kalonzo Musyoka did not speak to get Mzee Kibaki buried. Let Mzee Kibaki’s soul rest in an everlasting peace. Don’t make it a subject of debate,” the former Vice President said.
He however did not hesitate to mention one of the things that he would have said during his former boss’ burial.
“In fact, had I gotten the opportunity to speak, I would have said Mzee Kibaki declined when Ambassador Muthaura told me we should name Thika Superhighway as Kibaki superhighway, he declined . Now I saw they named Othaya sub district hospital a branch of Kenyatta Hospital as Kibaki Hospital. Maybe Mzee Kibaki did not want all that.
“If you have to look for something to name it after Kibaki to show the quality of servant leadership in him, then maybe look at Aberdares mountain, it is an English name, name it after Kibaki, because remember like Rudolf, it is Germany name and Kenyans said no, Lake Turkana. But, just, maybe Mzee Kibaki would not appreciate all of that. You may as well allow him to rest as a true servant leader, never worry about anything big, that was Mzee Kibaki,” Kalonzo said.
He further told those who want to continue with that discussion to keep his name out of their mouths
“I just want to bring an end to that discussion. If you want to continue with that discussion about Kibaki’s burial, don’t mention my name because I was there and released Mzee Kibaki to rest in eternal peace,” Kalonzo said.
Earlier this week, Archibishop Muheria explained why Kalonzo was not given an opportunity to make his remarks.
“The family of the late President Mwai Kibaki had expressly stated that they did not want political speeches and we respected that. In fact, the tributes were meant to be less than they were.We gave a worthy send-off to the third President as a country. As a result, we had to forgo certain things that surely some people would feel were amiss but we tried our best in the circumstances to honor Kibaki,” Muheria said in an interview with Citizen TV.
Mwai Kibaki died on April 21, 2022 and was laid to rest on April 30,2022 in Othaya, Nyeri county.
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