Uhuru orders Kenyan, EAC flags to fly at half-mast on Saturday until the burial of Pierre Nkurunziza

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday ordered that the Kenyan flag and that of the East African Community shall be flown at half-mast from Saturday until sunset on the day Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza will be buried.

Through a Presidential proclamation, the Head of State noted that the same shall be observed at all public buildings, grounds and all of Kenya’s Diplomatic missions abroad.

"In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Republic of Burundi, the wider EAC and the whole of Africa who are in deep mourning at the loss of a Great Son of Africa I, Uhuru Kenyatta, under the authority vested in me as the President of the Republic of Kenya, do hereby order and direct that in memory of the Late President Pierre Nkurunziza, and in solemn solidarity and mourning; the Flag of the East African Community and the Flag of the Republic of Kenya shall be flown at half-mast from dawn on Saturday, 13 until sunset on the day of his interment," said President Kenyatta.

In his condolence message, President Kenyatta termed the outgoing Burundi leader as an outstanding regional counterpart who served his country with distinction as Head of State and Government, and worked tirelessly for the peace and stability of his country and the Great Lakes Region.

President Kenyatta said death had robbed East Africa of a prominent leader whose contribution to the integration and progress of the region shall be sorely missed and prayed for God's calming comfort as the family, the people of Burundi and indeed East Africans mourn their departed leader.

Nkurunziza died unexpectedly on June 8, 2020, at the Fiftieth Anniversary Hospital in Karuzi, aged 55.