Unknown Details of Kenya's Most Interesting First Lady

Lucy Muthoni Kibaki was no ordinary first lady as she would throw diplomacy out the window when dealing with anyone who dared cross her path.

The most famous incident during her time as the first lady was when she stormed the Standard Media Group offices and slapped a cameraman who was filming her and uttered the now-famous phrase 'who is your mother?'

But how much really do most people know about one of State House's most interesting occupants?

Our news desk made a compilation of some of the facts about the late first lady that you might not have known about the wife, mother and grandmother.

1. Pastor's daughter

Lucy Kibaki was born on January 13, 1936, in Mukurweini Nyeri County to Reverend John Kagai of the PCEA and Rose Nyachomba. Her farther besides being a man of the cloth also served in the colonial era education ordinance in the Eastern Aberdares District Education Board until 1952 when he resigned.

2. Education (Alliance Girls High School)

Lucy started her education background in Nyeri before joining the prestigious Alliance Girls High School where she qualified to join college.

3. Trained Teacher.

After her high school education, Lucy trained as a teacher and taught at the Kamwenja Teachers College and later at the Kambui College in Kiambu county. 

Here Lucy rose to become a principal.

4.Dated Kibaki for 2 years.

Lucy met Mwai Kibaki in 1960 just after the former president had arrived from Makerere University, Uganda, where he had quit his job to join active politics in Kenya. 

The duo got married in 1962 after 2 years of dating and she later quit her teaching job in 1963.

5. Motherhood.

Lucy was a mother of four; Judy Wanjiku, Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagai and Tony Githinji.

She also served as the Patron of Kenya Girl Guides Association of Kenya and was a big crusader against Female Genital Mutilation.

6. Chaired the Organization of the 40 African First Ladies Against HIV/Aids

Lucy Kibaki was passionate about the fight against HIV/Aids. During her stint as first lady, she chaired the Organization of the 40 African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS during.

On March 10, 2016, she was rushed to Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in Muthaiga for emergency medical attention before being taken to Nairobi Hospital where she was admitted in ICU for a while.

On March 22nd, 2016, Mama Lucy was flown out of the country for specialized treatment. She died on April 26, 2016 at Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London.

She was given a heroic sendoff on May 7, 2016, at her family’s farm in Othaya, Nyeri County.

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