MWAI KIBAKI

Mwai Kibaki was born on November 15, 1931, in Gatuyaini village, located in the Othaya division of Kenya's Nyeri District. He was the youngest son of Kibaki Gĩthĩnji and Teresia Wanjikũ, both Kikuyu peasants. Although baptized as Emilio Stanley by Italian missionaries during his childhood, he became widely known as Mwai Kibaki throughout his public life. His education began at a village school in Gatuyaini, followed by the Karima mission school near Othaya town. He then attended Mathari School, now Nyeri High School, where he developed skills in carpentry and masonry along with his academic studies. Kibaki completed his education at Mang'u High School, achieving the highest grades in his O Level examinations.

In his final year at Mang'u, Kibaki considered joining the military, but due to restrictions placed on the Kikuyu, Embu, and Meru communities, he shifted his focus to higher education. He enrolled at Makerere University in Uganda, where he studied economics, history, and political science, graduating with a first-class honors degree in economics. After his studies, he worked for the Shell Company of East Africa before receiving a scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics, where he earned a BSc in public finance with distinction. Kibaki returned to Makerere University as an assistant lecturer in the economics department until 1961, the same year he married Lucy Muthoni, who was then a secondary school head teacher.

Transitioning into politics in early 1960, Kibaki joined the Kenya African National Union (KANU) as an executive officer and played a significant role in drafting Kenya's independence constitution. Elected as the Member of Parliament for Doonholm Constituency in 1963, he was appointed Permanent Secretary for the Treasury that same year. Kibaki served in various ministerial roles, including Minister of Finance and Economic Planning from 1969 to 1982. After relocating his political base to Othaya in 1974, he was re-elected multiple times. Kibaki also served as Vice President under Daniel arap Moi but faced political setbacks, including falling out of favor in 1988. Notably, he resigned from KANU in December 1991 after multi-party politics were reintroduced, founding the Democratic Party and running in the 1992 presidential elections, where he finished third.

In preparation for the 2002 elections, Kibaki's Democratic Party allied with other opposition parties to form the National Alliance of Rainbow Coalition (NARC). On October 14, 2002, Kibaki was nominated as the NARC presidential candidate, famously endorsed by Raila Odinga. Following a serious road accident on December 3, 2002, Kibaki's campaign continued under his colleagues' leadership. Despite his injuries, he won the presidential elections on December 27, 2002, securing 62% of the votes and ending KANU's 40-year rule.

Kibaki was inaugurated as Kenya's third president on December 30, 2002. He prioritized anti-corruption efforts and implemented a free primary education initiative that benefited over a million children. However, his presidency faced challenges, including health issues stemming from his accident and political controversies. The 2005 constitutional referendum, which aimed to redistribute power between the presidency and parliament, was rejected by voters, prompting Kibaki to dismiss his cabinet and form a new government.

In the lead-up to the 2007 elections, Kibaki announced his intention to seek re-election, forming the Party of National Unity. His victory in December 2007 was marred by allegations of electoral fraud, leading to widespread protests and violence. The crisis was eventually resolved through mediation, resulting in a power-sharing agreement with Raila Odinga, who became Prime Minister in the newly formed Grand Coalition Government.

During Kibaki's tenure, Kenya's economy showed significant improvement, with GDP growth rising from 0.6% in 2002 to 7% in 2007. He initiated key infrastructure projects and introduced the Vision 2030 development plan, aiming to elevate Kenya to middle-income status by 2030. However, his administration faced criticism for perpetuating a Kikuyu elite's dominance, failing to address tribalism adequately, and grappling with persistent corruption issues.

Kibaki's political legacy is complex; while he is credited with economic management and educational reforms, corruption and governance challenges continued to plague his administration. The promulgation of Kenya's 2010 Constitution marked a significant achievement, leading to important institutional reforms.

Kibaki's presidency came to an end on April 9, 2013, when he handed over power to his successor, Uhuru Kenyatta, reflecting on his years of service. He was married to Lucy Muthoni until her death in 2016, and they had four children. Kibaki passed away on April 21, 2022, at the age of 90.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mwai_Kibaki