Family of the late President Mwai Kibaki, distinguished guests, colleagues, and members of the fourth estate present today, good afternoon.
April 22 is a date embedded in my mind and thoughts since the death of our beloved Third President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Mwai Emilio Kibaki.
When I learnt that a group of eminent Kenyans launched the Mwai Kibaki Annual Memorial Lecture to keep the memory and ideas of this African icon alive, two years ago, it warmed my heart and spirit. This is a befitting endeavour worthy of the icon we honour, and, the yardstick we judge any Kenyan leader against. Such was his measure.
I first met Mwai Kibaki when I was elected in 1985 to serve the people of what was then known as the Kitui North constituency following a by-election. I was young and he was the Vice President of the Republic of Kenya and Minister for Home Affairs. I was a greenhorn and Kibaki had been feted not just nationally but internationally as the Finance Minister who steered our economy with sound fiscal discipline for over 13 years during the First Republic. Internationally respected TIME newsmagazine had in 1974, named Kibaki in the Top 100 people in the world with the potential to lead. The TIME Editors had foresight and belief in Kibaki, perhaps even more than Kenyans themselves; 28 years after that heralded article, Mwai Kibaki took the Oath of Office as the President of the Republic of Kenya.
As the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, I witnessed first-hand his oratory masterclass – he was an orator, a scriptwriter; the august floor was his stage and always sold out.
When the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) won the historic 27th December 2002 General Election, President Kibaki appointed me as his first Minister for Foreign Affairs. Our relationship became more personal.
It is that forge of trust and faith, I believe, that allowed President Kibaki to reach out to my party ODM-Kenya in Africa, to save and rescue the nation-state of Kenya following the Post-Election 2007 violence. Together, we formed what was the first Coalition and first negotiated position in the name of the Office of the Vice President. I then had the honour and privilege to be sworn in as the Tenth Vice President of the Republic of Kenya on 9th January 2008.
President Kibaki made everyone feel at home. He would get our nation laughing. Even whilst faced with difficult moments, he would say: “Jienjoy”.
President Kibaki listened and he empowered his lieutenants. He was not a micro manager. He reduced taxation across the board and did away with unnecessary and prohibitive laws. President Kibaki’s leadership led to the unprecedented 7 percent growth of our economy. Our infrastructural growth was self-evident as was the commitment to Economic Recovery Strategy and Vision 2030.
President Kibaki was an iconic father figure, a selfless, beloved and brilliant leader and his legacy will live on throughout countless generations. It was my greatest honour and singular privilege to serve as his third Vice President.
Remarkably and perhaps, what distinguishes President Mwai Kibaki from other leaders was his disdain for self-acclamation. I remember that we tried to have the Thika Super Highway named after him. His response: “Doesn’t this road already have a name?”
One of his least heralded qualities was his ability to re-steer our constitutional ambition. Less than five years from the costly defeat by the people of the Wako Constitutional Draft at the November 2005 Referendum, President Kibaki promulgated the 2010 Constitution of Kenya on 27th August 2010.
Kenya has President Kibaki to greatly thank, and we owe him a debt of gratitude, because our Constitution is heralded as one of the most progressive constitutions in Africa, if not the world.
It is this Constitution that now more than ever, holds the fabric of our nation together at these grave and perilous times.
Yesterday, Kenya and the world witnessed the most egregious assault on democracy, when security agents acting on orders from State House, lobbed teargas at young students of Butere Girls High School, members of the press at the National Drama Festival in Nakuru. It is an act of criminality against basic values of common decency. It is a direct assault to our democracy, and rights of Kenyans, as enshrined in our Constitution.
Under Article 33 of the Constitution, every person has the right to freedom of expression — a right that includes the guarantee for the Butere Girls to perform their play without fear or intimidation. Their artistic expression is protected by law. Article 34 further guarantees the freedom and independence of the Media.
Let us be clear: this Ruto regime has crossed the Rubicon.
To the courageous students of Butere Girls: your resolve, even as you sang our National Anthem in the face of riot gear and arms, has become our renewed symbol of hope. You are the true guardians of Kenya’s future — bold, unyielding, and principled.
Let it be known today as we honour President Kibaki who promulgated our sacred document fifteen years ago on August 27, 2010 that we will continue to defend the Constitution, we will protect all Kenyans freedoms and rights, and we will not be silenced. Not today, not now, not ever.
