Kenya mourns a patriot: Uhuru Kenyatta pays tribute at Kijana Wamalwa's memorial
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Former president Uhuru Kenyatta travelled to Kitale on Sunday to serve as chief guest at Kijana Wamalwa's 23rd annual memorial service
- The commemoration at the Wamalwa family's Milimani home drew notable opposition figures including Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua
- Uhuru launched a commemorative biography titled My Country First at the event, having personally written the foreword for the book
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta made a notable public appearance on Sunday, August 23, when he travelled to Kitale in Trans Nzoia County to honour the memory of the late vice-president Michael Kijana Wamalwa at his 23rd annual memorial service.
Uhuru served as the chief guest at the commemoration, which was hosted by the Wamalwa family at their Milimani home in Kitale. The family had personally invited the former president to lead the annual remembrance of one of Kenya's most celebrated political figures.
How did Uhuru honour Kijana Wamalwa?
A video shared online by Citizen TV journalist Emmanuel Too captured the former president placing a wreath at Kijana Wamalwa's neatly kept grave.
The mausoleum-style area where the late VP rests was adorned with portraits of the politician, with the words "Kenya Mourns a Patriot" visible on the walls, a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to public service.
Beyond the wreath-laying ceremony, Uhuru also launched a commemorative biography on Wamalwa titled My Country First.
The former president played a personal role in the publication, having authored the foreword for the book.
Which politicians attended the memorial?
The memorial drew a constellation of political figures, transforming the Milimani home into a significant gathering point for the country's political class.
Among those present were Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former presidential running mate Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu.
The occasion gave opposition leaders and political allies a shared platform to reflect on Wamalwa's contribution to Kenyan politics and his enduring legacy.
Kijana Wamalwa, who served as vice-president under President Mwai Kibaki, remains a towering figure in the history of Kenya's western region and in the country's broader democratic journey.
The annual service continues to serve as a moment of national reflection, drawing leaders from across the political divide to Trans Nzoia each year.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.