Update: Former President Mwai Kibaki passed away on Friday, April 22, 2022. President Uhuru Kenyatta announced.
The handover of power by former President Mwai Kibaki to President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 was emotional for both of them as well as the millions of Kenyans who followed the proceedings.
The first signal that Kibaki's life was about to change happened at Kasarani Stadium.
When he was handing over the instruments of power to Uhuru, the Aide de Camp carefully shifted his position from standing behind Kibaki to get behind Uhuru.
That was the end of his 10 year reign and after the highly emotive ceremony at Kasarani, Kibaki travelled to State House for the first time as a private citizen to attend the inaugural ball.
In his speech, the outgoing State House occupant stuck to his written notes, saving the off-the-cuff remarks that Kenyans had been accustomed to, for his successor.
Ruto described Kibaki as a father figure who had been instrumental in shaping Kenya for over 50 years.
"Uhuru Kenyatta and I are very lucky because we know who you voted for," stated Ruto to the amusement of the delegates who had attended.
As he tried to enter his vehicle to leave, Uhuru held Kibaki and told him that there were people who wanted to bid him farewell. "Kuna watu wanataka kusema kwaheri (Hold on, some people want to say bye)," he stated.
The old man obliged and former Chief of Defence Julius Karangi led KDF's top brass to say their goodbyes. They held a special place in their hearts for Kibaki who as Commander in Chief, successfully led their entry into Somalia to combat Al Shabaab.
The Aide de Camp who had shifted to Uhuru during the swearing-in ceremony, also got the opportunity to honour his years of service to Kibaki, before taking his place once again behind the new State House boss.
After years of riding in the presidential stretch limousine, Kibaki rode out of State House in a smaller convoy of Mercedes S 500s with private number plates and no outriders.
The choice of song that the army band had chosen for Kibaki's farewell made the moment all the more intense.
If there was a choir in place to see off Kibaki, this is how they would have sung along to the tune: "Tunaomba uwepo wako uende nasi, ewe bwana wa majeshi tusikie (We ask for God to lead us, Lord of all armies hear us)..."
