President Uhuru Kenyatta Mourns the Late Nelson Madiba
It
is with profound sorrow that I have learnt of the passing away of
‘Shujaa’ Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former President of the Republic of
South Africa and an outstanding African statesman and icon.
On
behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya and on my
own behalf, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the family and
friends of the late Mandela and to the people of the Republic of South
Africa.
I have dispatched messages of my heartfelt sympathy to
His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, and to Mama Graca Machel. We share
the pain of this irreplaceable loss and mourn with our South African
brothers and sisters. Our prayers are with them at this moment of
national grief.
President Nelson Mandela was an exceptional
transformational leader who was gifted with unique, admirable abilities
and strong values. He believed in the noble principles of equity,
justice, cohesiveness and inclusiveness in governance. He had faith and
confidence in the ability of his people to realize the dream of a free,
united and prosperous South Africa.
Mandela lived and worked
for a world in which people should live together in peace and
tranquility regardless of colour, race or religion. His strong belief in
Africa and its people epitomized the best of the Pan-Africanism spirit.
His courage to confront apartheid transcended across the world and
propelled the fight against colonialism and discrimination. As a free
man, President Mandela led the fight to free Africa not only from
political bondage but equally important from the scourge of disease,
poverty, poor governance and illiteracy -- ills of modern life.
President Nelson Mandela embodied the power of hope; and believed in
the power of forgiveness. He bequeathed us the understanding that we can
and should unconditionally forgive those who wrong us. He was a firm
believer that reconciliation is an imperative and is possible.
His life story teaches the great lesson of the power of will in turning
adversity to victory. In his humility President Mandela did what was
right, made tremendous sacrifices and did not seek any form of personal
praise. In short, President Mandela’s name is cast on the echelons of
history. His image and standing among all men will forever stand tall.
Madiba’s story defined and reflected the history and struggles of our
continent. In President Mandela, we learn never to backtrack in our
journey to chart our destiny. We have the responsibility of living by
the ideals that he stood for.
Only the truly exceptional people
leave their mark in the world and Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was one of
those. Madiba was a child and traditional chief of the Transkei and a
leader in this world.
We will miss this most cherished of Africa’s sons, a true African “shujaa”.
President Nelson Mandela lived an extraordinary life in an ordinary
way. His legacy encrypts the story of humanity, now and tomorrow.
South Africa, Africa and the whole world is a witness of Madiba’s goodwill.
Fare thee well, Tata Madiba!
