President Kenyatta declares three days of mourning in Kenya to honour Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa

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President Uhuru Kenyatta

Kenya will mourn the death of Tanzania’s former President Benjamin Mkapa for three days.

President Uhuru Kenyatta made the declaration Friday, and directed that the East African national flags fly at half-mast.

Mkapa, who ruled Tanzania from 1995 to 2005, died early Friday morning after a long illness, according to the country’s President John Pombe Magufuli.

“In recognition of this immense loss and tragedy, and as a show of our National Respect for the Fallen African Giant, I haveissued a Presidential Proclamation, announcing that the Republic of Kenya shall observe 3 days of national mourning throughout the entire territory of our CountrY,” Kenyatta said in a statement.

The order takes effect on Monday July 27 to July 29.

“During this mourning period, the Kenyan Flag and the Flag of the East African Community shall fly at half-mast,” the statement said, in mourning Tanzania’s third president.

In his condolence message, the President described Mkapa as a statesman who worked tirelessly for the integration, peace and progress of the region.