Former first lady Lucy Kibaki Passes on

– President Uhuru Kenyatta has led the nation in mourning the death of former first lady Lucy Kibaki. Uhuru broke the news of Lucy’s death on the morning of Tuesday, April 26

– Lucy Kibaki had been flown to the United Kingdom for treatment after being ill in the country for about a month. She died while undergoing treatment at Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London 

Former first lady Lucy Kibaki is dead.

According to a statement issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta, 75-year-old Lucy Kibaki passed away on Tuesday, April 26, while undergoing treatment at Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London.

“It is with deep sense of sadness and loss that I have learnt of the untimely death of the former first lady, Her Excellency Lucy Kibaki… On behalf of all Kenyans and my government, I convey heartfelt condolences and encouragement to His Excellency Mwai Kibaki, family and friends,” said Uhuru.

 Uhuru said Lucy Kibaki, who was the wife to his predecessor Mwai Kibaki, would be  remembered for her contribution in the development of the country. She was committed in improving the well being of the ordinary Kenyans, in particular her focus on tackling HIV/AIDs, he said.

She had been unwell for about a month. She was taken abroad for further treatmentafter spending time in local hospitals.

Lucy Kibaki was admitted at Nairobi Hospital on the night of Thursday, March 10, 2016 after falling ill at her home in Muthaiga. Reports indicated that she was first taken to Gertrude Children’s Hospital before being transferred.

The family’s spokesman Ngari Gituku had dismissed reports that Lucy Kibaki was suffering from heart complications and breathing problems. He said her ailment was related to atrophy, a condition that mostly occurs in old age. It is a state involving wasting away or decrease in size of an organ or tissue in the body.

Speculations about the former first lady’s health have long featured in rumour mills, since she disappeared from the public eye nearly five years ago.

The last time she was seen in public was in August 2010 during the promulgation of the new constitution. After that, she went quite, and even missed her own brother’s burial ceremony, raising concerns from the public.

Kenyans at one time took to social media demanding to know where their first lady was, but no official communication from State House on the issue came.

Kibaki went on to attend several farewell parties as he retired without her by his side. Lucy Kibaki was also not present when her husband handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta in April 2013.

Kibaki and Lucy are said to have met in 1960 and got married after courting for two years. The couple has four children: Jimmy Kibaki, David Kagai, Tony Githinji and Judy Wanjiku.

Lucy Kibaki was a  teacher by profession and rose through the ranks to become a school principal. She once served as the patron of the Kenya Girl Guides Association.