Requiem mass for Lucy Kibaki to be held today

National Youth Service personnel at work at Othaya Approved School grounds in Othaya, Nyeri County, yesterday. Some 20,000 people are expected to attend Mama Lucy Kibaki’s funeral service at the grounds on Saturday. (PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/ STANDARD)

A requiem mass for former first lady Lucy Kibaki will be held today at the Consolata Church in Westlands, Nairobi.

Her body, currently lying in state at Lee Funeral Home, will arrive at the church at about 9am, according to the funeral committee.

The vehicle carrying her remains will go through Argwings Kodhek Road, Valley Road, Kenyatta Avenue and then Chiromo Road.

Those wishing to attend the mass must be seated by 9am. There will be no public viewing of the body.

The chairman of the funeral committee, Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, said yesterday that the mass will begin at 9.30am. There will be limited parking slots for the public.

“We urge motorists to heed orders from traffic officers who will be on the roads,” he said.

Mr Kibicho asked those wishing to physically condole with the former president to do so after Saturday.

“Due to the tight schedule, he is unable to see most of those who wish to do so. We urge them to come after Saturday at his private home in Nairobi,” he said in Nairobi.

More than 20,000 mourners are expected this Saturday at Mrs Kibaki’s funeral service in Othaya.

The mourners, both local and international, will include over 800 dignitaries, officials said.

The event will be held at Othaya Approved School grounds, which is about two kilometres from Kibaki’s Kanyange home.

Security in Othaya town has been beefed up ahead of the ceremony.

Mrs Kibaki, who died last week at Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London, will be laid to rest at the Kibaki’s home at a private ceremony after the funeral service at the school’s grounds, Kibicho said.

A team of security officials from the Office of the President yesterday inspected the ongoing preparations at the grounds.

Led by Central Regional Coordinator Naphtaly Mung’athia and Nyeri County Commissioner Onesmus Musyoki, the team toured the grounds where casual workers and the National Youth Service (NYS) were clearing bushes.

NYS personnel were also busy preparing Mrs Kibaki’s final resting place at the Kibaki’s home.

Report by Cyrus Ombati, Lydiah Nyawira and Job Weru