The name of the late Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa will remain popular among Kenyans following his key role in bridging peace between the conflicting parties witnessed in 2007 elections.
The violence erupted in the country following the disputed presidential election between President Mwai Kibaki of PNU who was seeking his second term and ODM leader Raila Odinga who was also seeking the seat.
Kibaki had reinstated that his government will not share power while Raila insisted that rerun of presidential elections would have restored order in the country.
No one between the two was ready to settle and the hard line stance between the two conflicting parties worsened the situation across the country which saw more than 1,000people losing their lives and businesses paralysed.
The mediation team led by Eminent African Personalities including former and late UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Benjamin Mkapa and the former South Africa first lady Graca Machel arrived in the country to mediate.
The team began their mediation process on January 22, 2008, three weeks after violence had erupted.
In 41 days, the panel had concluded the mediation exercise which saw the signing of Agreement on the Principles of Partnership of the Coalition Government.
Kibaki and Raila signed the agreement on February 28, 2008 bringing to an end the violence.
Following his death, several leaders in the country who recognised his effort have hailed him as a peace mediator who wanted African countries to live in peace among its neighbours.
President Uhuru has eulogised Mkapa as a great and outstanding friend to Kenya while Kkibaki mourned him as a leader who wanted Africa to be a better place.
Raila said his death is a big loss to the country and that African continent has lost a giant.
