Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has subtly lifted the lid on his rumoured battle with cancer, sharing snippets of his battle as he mourned his close friend Frank Ireri, who succumbed to the disease.
Speaking at Ireri’s funeral on Friday October 31, Uhuru hinted at his own ongoing health struggles, praising Ireri for supporting him on his journey.
Although he did not explicitly reveal that he was battling cancer or any other illness, the former president noted that they had shared similar health struggles and had often come together to find solace in their situation.
“I do not know whether I should say this, but these are the realities of life. But for the better part of last year and this year, he was very encouraging about the challenges we were going through, and since he had more experience than us, he was very encouraging in guiding and telling us how to handle such issues,” Uhuru narrated.
“I will miss that counsel, and I will appreciate everything he guided us towards, and how he really held our hand and told us not to worry and that all this will come to pass,” he added.
While eulogising Ireri, the former president intimated that he could still be battling the illness, and emotionally expressed that he would be content when his time came.
“The reason Frank is lying here is because it is his time. Those who have those challenges, we will continue fighting with them, but equally, when it is God's time, we shall join him (Frank) and be thankful of the life that we lived, and the times that we shared,” Uhuru said.
Uhuru’s sentiments came after rumours over his ill-health started circulating early this year.
The reports were exacerbated by his limited public appearances and reduced political activity for a good part of last year and earlier this year. His limited public appearances did little to quell these rumours, as he sported a bald head, sparking debate that he was undergoing chemotherapy.
Keen netizens also noted shortness of breath whenever he was speaking.
However, these reports were dismissed by members of his political circle, with Jubilee party official Pauline Njoroge at one time describing the rumours as fictional and ill-intentioned.
In the recent past, Uhuru has made more public appearances, even leading his Jubilee party in a National Delegates Conference (NDC) meeting.
His health has greatly improved and his speeches are filled with energy.
