Kibaki's State funeral service underway at Nyayo Stadium

The state funeral service for the late President Mwai Kibaki has finally started at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The service started at 10.33 am shortly after visiting presidents and heads of government finished paying their last respects led by their host, President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The exercise was conducted in strict accordance with military protocols before the start of the service.

The service was preceded by the blessing of the body.

The interdenominational funeral service was led by the Catholic Church under the leadership of Arch Bishop Philip Anyolo.

“This service will be conducted by the military and the church. We wish to request that we shall have no political overtones or politics,” Anyolo said.

The Bishop was assisted in conducting the holy requiem mass by Bishop Martin Kivuva of the archdiocese of Mombasa.

In their message of condolence read on their behalf by Bishop Kivuva, Catholic bishops said the late president will be remembered for his selfless and articulate leadership.

“He was indeed a father, an elder and a true leader of the nation.” 

The bishops called on Kenyans to emulate the late president who served the country with dedication without ethnicity or favoritism.

“Reflect and learn from his wealth of wisdom,” the bishops urged Kenyans.