Ethiotime1
Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Sahle-Work Zewde(Ethiopia and Salva Kiir (South Sudan) led African leaders in paying tribute to former President Mwai Kibaki during his State funeral on Friday.
The three leaders said their respective countries are mourning with Kenyans.
In his address, Ramaphosa compared Kibaki to their anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela.
“We especially remember him for his leadership in uniting Kenyans and for us, as South Africans, we saw him in the mould in which we saw our own first President Nelson Mandela who sought to unite our nation and who planted our seeds of the development,” he said.
Mandela, who died in 2013 was the first black president of South Africa, serving from 1994 to 1999. The South African icon led the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy.
Ramaphosa eulogised Kibaki as a man who demonstrated great leadership not only to Kenya but also to the continent.
“As South Africa and the Southern African Development Community, we were saddened to hear of the passing of Kibaki. News of his passing touched our hearts. We wish you strength as you go through this moment,” he said.
He added that Kenya had a great president in Kibaki as he developed the country and united the people.
“We will remember Kibaki for the leadership he demonstrated not just in Kenya but in Africa as a continent,” he said.
Ramaphosa assured that the relationship between Kenya and South Africa will continue to grow in moments of celebrations and sadness.
The thanked Uhuru for his message of condolences following the death of 435 people in floods that engulfed South Africa recently.
Zewde said Ethiopia went into deep grief after the death of Kibaki.
“I want to convey the condolences of the people of Ethiopia and government. He was a true friend of Ethiopia before and after his term in office,” she said.
She said relationship between Ethiopia and Kenya improved significantly during Kibaki’s term.
She named the Moyale One Stop Border Post and Lapsset Corridor Programme project as one of the undertakings started by Kibaki that improved ties between the two nations.
Moyale OSBP is Eastern Africa’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project bringing together Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
She also hailed Kibaki for promoting peace in Somalia and striving to ensure the Intergovernmental Authority on Development- an eight-country trade bloc in Africa, is successful.
Kiir said South Sudan owes Kibaki gratitude for giving Africa’s youngest nation the peace it is enjoying today.
“He ensure that government officers received adequate training at the Kenya at School of Government. Kenyans, we owe you for electing capable leader,” he said in speech read by a a minister of State.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
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