Mombasa business community pays tribute to Kibaki

The Mombasa business community on Wednesday thronged the Coast Regional headquarters in Mombasa to pay tribute to late retired President Mwai Kibaki.

Led by Imtiaz Sayani, a Mombasa business leader and philanthropist, the business community said they owe their business growth to the late President through his business-friendly policies.

“The late president laid the foundation for business growth in Mombasa and in Kenya,” Sayani said.

He represented Mombasa Cement boss Hasmukh Patel, a long-time friend of the former President.

Sayani said Mombasa’s status as a tourism and economic hub was due to Kibaki’s vision.

“We hope that leaders emulate him and make sound policies that will attract more investors to Mombasa and the Coast region.”

Mombasa businessman and GEMA Coast chairman Chrispus Waithaka said Kibaki left a long-lasting legacy ranging from a new constitution, a revived economy, democracy and free primary education, among other things.

“It is not a coincidence that all the good things in Kenya are associated with him. We miss his leadership,” Waithaka said after signing the condolence book.

The condolences book was launched on Tuesday by Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata, who led Coast residents in paying tribute to the late Kibaki.

Elungata said the death of Kenya’s third President is a blow to the country’s infrastructural blue print and development.

“His tenure in office was the 'golden decade' of Kenya when the country witnessed massive unparalleled socio-economic development,” he said.

The RC described Kibaki as a selfless man who oversaw rapid development of the country during his ten-year stint at the helm.

He said similar condolence books have been opened in the coastal counties of Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River and urged the public to sign them in Kibaki’s honour.

Mombasa County Commissioner John Otieno, who accompanied Elungata said he frequently interacted with the former president while serving as a District Commissioner in Kibwezi.

He said his style of leadership was non-confrontational, and always chose to make peace rather than fight back.

Otieno's sentiments were echoed by former Nairobi mayor Nathan Kahara, who led other former mayors and councillors in Mombasa in paying tribute to the late President.

“He never used to let fighting go on,” he said.

Kihara recalled a time when Kibaki, then Vice President and acting president because then President Daniel Moi was on a trip abroad, came to his office to support the councillors and ask them to work together.

He noted that at the time, there was infighting over running of the City Hall. 

“In fact I remember his coming to preach peace and there was peace at City Hall from that day,” Kahara said, adding that “If he became the president many years before (2003) things could have been different.”

Former Mombasa Mayor Rajab Sumba said Kibaki, waived taxes on councillors’ allowances while he was Finance Minister.

“It helped us take home more money to cater for our families,” he said.

He described Kibaki as a democrat and revolutionary leader who kept peace whenever he went.

He said Kibaki played a big role in the development of Mombasa as he motivated councillors to work with a lot of motivation because of the fiscal policies he put in place.

“The county estates you see today are the work of us former councillors,” Sumba said.

Former Ganjoni Councillor Mary Olang’ said while Kibaki was Finance Minister, no Councillor had their salary delayed.

She called on the current leadership in the country to emulate Kibaki’ leadership and tackle critical issues like corruption.

“Kenya has a lot of money. It is only that that money finds its way into individual’s pockets because of corruption,” said Olang’.