Kenyans Who Have Been Accorded State Funerals

State funeral is a public funeral ceremony observing strict rules of protocols which is held to honor people of significance to the nation.

For civilians who have not been presidents, the decision to accord them a state funeral is given by the sitting president in consultation with the Defense Council who authorizes military funerals for commissioned officers and service members.

Kenya's first president, President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was the first President to be accorded a state Funeral. He was the first head of state after Kenya gained independence in 1963 which gave him room to shape the country’s politics and foreign policy.

His reign was from December 12, 1964 until his death on August 22, 1978. He was given a state burial on August 31, 1964 and his body was interred at Parliament Grounds in Nairobi.

Kenya’s eighth vice president Michael Kijana Wamalwa who died in Royal Free Hospital in London on August 23,2003 after being in office for eight months was the second person to be accorded a state funeral.

The former President Mwai Kibaki had prefered his burial to take place at Heroes Corner in Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi but he upon his death he was accorded a state funeral in his Kitale farm on September 6,2003.

Nobel Prize Winner Professor Wangari Mathai was the next to be accorded a state funeral on October 8, 2011 which was held at Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park before cremation of her body at the Kariokor Crematorium

Wangari Mathai was the founder of Green Belt Movement and was accredited for planting more than 30 million trees in Kenya.

Mama Lucy Kibaki, wife to Late Mwai Kibaki was awarded a state burial after being the first lady of Kenya for 10 years.

She died on April 26, 2016, at Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London and was laid to rest in Othaya, Nyeri County, on May 7, 2016

Nyeri’s second Governor Wahome Gakuru also qualified for a state burial after his death in a grisly road accident in Kabati town on his way from Nyeri to Nairobi. His send-off was held on November 18, 2017.

The first Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama was also accorded a state funeral after his death at Nairobi Hospital  on December 18, 2020.

Former President Daniel Moi was also awarded a state funeral in April 2020. He was the second and the most long serving president from 1978 to 2002.

He died on February 4, 2020 and his body lay in state for three days inside Parliament. His state funeral was conducted at the National stadium on February 11, 2020, and was buried in Kabarak with full military honors.

Kenya’s third President Mwai Kibaki was accorded a state funeral in April 2022. Kibaki was admitted to Nairobi Hospital and passed away on April 21, 2022.. His body lay in state inside Parliament  until his state funeral  at Nyayo National Stadium on April 29, 2022, and his body was interred at his Othaya home with full military honors.

Dedan Kimathi’s wife, Field Marshal Mukami Kimathi becomes the ninth Kenyan that is accorded a state funeral on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at her rural home in Njabini, Nyandarua county. Mukami was the wife to the late  freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi.