Mwai Kibaki: President who squandered an opportunity to fix the country

Former President Mwai Kibaki. [File, Standard]

Mwai Kibaki, who died on Friday aged 90, was born on November 15, 1931 in Othaya, Nyeri, in the central highlands of Kenya. He spent a lifetime in public service.

He served as President of Kenya – the third after independence – from 2002 to 2013, a critical period in Kenya’s transition from a one party state to democracy. He also served as the fourth vice president (1978 to 1988) under President Daniel arap Moi.