Jimmy Kibaki, the late President Mwai Kibaki's eldest son has opened up about his father's last days that preceded his demise last week on Thursday, April 22.
Jimmy spoke to the media outside Parliament Buildings where he had joined President Uhuru Kenyatta in a viewing ceremony for the fallen statesman. The younger Kibaki stated that the family had opted to keep details of their patriarch's illness private noting that they have been a private family for a very long time.
He disclosed that the late President had health issues for the last three years adding that his condition quickly worsened over the last month.
He expressed that the majority of the family members knew the end was near but they held on to hope that he would make it through.
"Mzee had been ailing for the last three years. The last three months were quite difficult but really, in the last month, things started deteriorating very fast. He put quite a good battle but in the end, with the age factor, the end came quite fast.
"He was comfortable throughout. For 90 years, he has lived a good life. As a family, we were not surprised maybe the public. As a family, we were very private and did not want to make his medical state public," he explained.
Additionally, he described his father as a loving family man who liked spending his time with his grandchildren.
He stated that the former Head of State occasionally clashed with state House officials as he wanted to spend his time with the family.
"My father was first and foremost a family man. In 2003, there were many officials who did not know what his family meant to him. When they understood that, his operations moved very smoothly. Even on a working day, they would be at State House because his priority was always his family.
"My father was a very huge figure in my life. I do not think that it has really hit me that he is not there anymore. It will probably hit me when he is buried in Othaya on Saturday," the businessman stated.
On his most cherished moments with his father, Jimmy stated that family vacations were the best moments for the family. He stated that in Kibaki's younger days, they created big family moments when they went on holidays in Mombasa.
"One of my brightest memories was when we use to go to Mombasa for holiday. He would walk on the beach, laughing and having fun at the beach. Those were beautiful memories because you would rarely see him being carefree like that," he narrated.
The fallen President's son hinted at joining elective politics - promising to issue a comprehensive statement on his political ambitions after laying his father to rest.
Kibaki will be buried in his Othaya home on Saturday, April 30. The burial will be preceded by a national memorial service that will be held at the Nyayo Stadium on Friday, April 29.
