•For civilians who have not been presidents, the decision is made by the sitting president in consultation with the Defence Council.
• The late Dedan Kimathi’s wife, Field Marshal Mukami Kimathi will be the ninth Kenyan that will be accorded a state funeral on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Image: COURTESY
A state funeral as described by Wikipedia is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honour people of national significance.
In Kenya, people of national significance have in the past been accorded a state funeral.
Dedan Kimathi’s wife, Field Marshal Mukami Kimathi will be the ninth Kenyan that will be accorded a state funeral on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Historically, Kenya honours heads of state with state funerals.
For civilians who have not been presidents, the decision is made by the sitting president in consultation with the Defence Council.
Also, the Defence Council authorises military funerals for commissioned officers and service members.
Kenya’s first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was the first Kenyan to be accorded a state funeral.
Being the first head of state after Kenya gained independence in 1963, he is known for shaping the country’s politics and foreign policy.
Kenyatta was president from December 12, 1964, until his death on August 22, 1978.
He was accorded a state funeral on August 31, 1978, and his body was interred at Parliament Grounds in Nairobi.
Michael Kijana Wamalwa, Kenya’s eighth vice president died in Royal Free Hospital in London on August 23, 2003, eight months after assuming office.
Former President Mwai Kibaki had offered to bury him at Heroes Corner at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi but he was accorded a state funeral in his Kitale farm on September 6, 2003.
Noble Prize winner Wangari Maathai was accorded a state funeral on October 8, 2011.
It was held at Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park before her body was cremated at the Kariokor Crematorium.
Maathai was the Green Belt Movement founder and was credited for planting more than 30 million trees in Kenya.
Being the first Lady of Kenya for 10 years, Mama Lucy Kibaki was also accorded a state burial.
She was the wife to Mwai Kibaki, Kenya’s third president.
Mama Lucy died on April 26, 2016, at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London.
Her state funeral was in Othaya, Nyeri County, on May 7, 2016.
Nyeri’s second Governor Wahome Gakuru also qualified for a state funeral.
He died in a grisly road accident in Kabati town on his way from Nyeri to Nairobi.
Gakuru's send-off was held on November 18, 2017.
The first Nyamira governor John Nyagarama was also accorded a state funeral.
Aged 74, he died on December 18, 2020, at the Nairobi Hospital intensive care unit.
He was taken to the hospital three weeks ago when he tested positive for coronavirus.
The Interior Ministry indicated that the governor who until his demise was serving as the Governor for Nyamira County hence was to be accorded a state funeral.
Kenya’s third president Mwai Kibaki was accorded a state funeral in April 2022.
At the time of his death, Kibaki was admitted to Nairobi Hospital and passed away on April 21, 2022.
In his lifetime, Kibaki had served as Minister of Finance under President Jomo Kenyatta and Vice President under President Daniel Moi.
His body lay in state inside Parliament guarded by Kenya Defence Forces colonels changing in shifts.
The state funeral was conducted at Nyayo National Stadium on April 29, 2022, and his body was interred at his Othaya home with full of military honours.
Daniel Moi was also given a state funeral in April 2020.
He was the second and longest-serving president of Kenya, from 1978 to 2002.
Moi died on February 4, 2020, and his body lay in state for three days inside Parliament.
His state funeral complete with military honours was conducted at the Nyayo National Stadium on February 11, 2020, and was buried in Kabarak, also with full of military honours.