From Kate Actress to Khaligraph: How the entertainment industry remembers Kibaki

 Since his demise was announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 22, tributes from the showbiz scene have been streaming in [Courtesy]

Entertainers have eulogised the late President Mwai Kibaki as a visionary leader and national hero who supported the arts.

Since his demise was announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 22, tributes from the showbiz scene have been streaming in.

Catherine Kamau, popularly known as Kate Actress, remembered the late former president as one who had played a key role in her career taking off.

The actress shared a throwback clip on Facebook where she narrated a poem to him at an official state event, captioning it warmly as a pivotal moment for her.

“On this day, my career changed for the better , I was invited to the house on the hill . "Umemaliza shule ? " he asked,”  Kamau reflected.

She added: “The opportunities that came thereafter were humbling. Thank you Mr President, you will be missed.”

The actress also uploaded an image of the late president and called him her “favourite” president.

Rapper Khaligraph Jones opted to pay his respects by stopping his musical activities in the late President’s honour.

Khaligraph postponed the release of his music video for the track Maombi Ya Mama. The video was highly anticipated and is off his recently released album Invisible Currency.

The rapper announced the delay on his Instagram account.

“Maombi Ya Mama was supposed to drop this week but we had to postpone it to next week after losing a national hero (RIP Kibaki),” he wrote alongside a clip of the awaited music video.

 Singer Otile Brown hailed Kibaki for introducing free primary education, which he said helped him get through school [Courtesy]

Singer Otile Brown hailed Kibaki for introducing free primary education, which he said helped him get through school.

Speaking at an interview with a local YouTube channel, the Dusuma singer recognised the late president's input in the education sector and it’s impact on his life.

“Mimi nimesoma shule ya bure in primary. I remember that things were getting very tough for my mum and that’s when the free primary education was introduced. It was very helpful to me. That’s why I posted his picture on Instagram and captioned it ‘thank you’, because it was coming from my heart,” Otile said.

 Khaligraph postponed the release of his music video for the track Maombi Ya Mama [Courtesy]

In his true attention-grabbing style, the popular comedian Eric Omondi poked humour about the mourning period, especially how strangers seem to be ‘hit hard by the loss.’

A post shared on his Instagram account re-enactd the body viewing process, jokingly suggesting that the biggest cries are from ordinary Kenyans who did not know the late president personally.

Other popular personalities sent their condolences on social media too.

Akothee shared the image of former President Kibaki on Instagram, accompanying it with ‘praying’ emojis.

“Rest in Peace!” singer Nameless wrote.

And the usual antics of controversial viral personalities have also reared their heads. The eccentric musician Embarambamba has released a song in honour of Kibaki too.

The Kisii entertainer did what he is known for, throwing himself dramatically in mud, as though swimming in it while “mourning” the late president.

He posted the new video on his Facebook page, leaving Kenyans in stitches despite the sombre time.

Kibaki passed on at the age of 90.