Why Mwai Kibaki Never Moved to His Ksh400 Million Home in Nyeri

Kenya’s third president the late Mwai Kibaki never moved to his Ksh400 million government-built home in Nyeri following his retirement.

In 2011, two years before his retirement, the government embarked on constructing a befitting retirement home for him in his hometown, Mweiga which is about 15 kilometers from Nyeri town.

The house sits on a 100-acre piece of land along the Nyeri—Nyahururu highway.

The mini-state house was built to give the departed former commander in chief a peaceful retirement away from the hustle of Nairobi.

[The home that was built for the late president Mwai Kibaki. Photo/Courtesy]

It was perceived that once he handed over power to the new President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013, he would have been airlifted to the newly built house; however, he surprised many as he opted to retire to his personal home in Muthaiga, Nairobi.

It is noted that the late president loved and enjoyed urban life.

According to one of his long-time friends, the late Njenga Karume, in his book ‘Beyond Expectations: From Charcoal to Gold” said during their youthful years, they would sometimes enjoy drinking sprees in bars in the city as well as in Kiambu where the former Kiambaa MP lived. 

Kibaki on the other hand lived in Nairobi West.

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, who was also a long time friend, and who also served in his Cabinet, revealed that after the evening farewell party at State House on the day he handed over power, they had expected that the late President would be driven to Mweiga, only for the motorcade to go to Muthaiga.

His longtime friend Joseph Munyao, who served as the Democratic Party Secretary-General when Kibaki was the party leader, said the deceased was a fun-loving person who enjoyed socializing in high-end hotels.

The late president died on the 22^nd Friday, April 2022.

He was accorded a state funeral service today, on 29^th April 2022 at Nyayo Stadium. An event that was attended by government officials led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and first lady Margaret Kenyatta as well as other dignitaries such as South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde, and former Malawi President Joyce Banda.

He will be laid to rest at his home in Othaya, on Saturday.

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