Kenya to mourn Benjamin Mkapa for 3 days

President Benjamin Mkapa

Kenya will observe three days of national mourning in honour of the fallen former Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa.

President Uhuru Kenyatta

“We stand with them [Tanzanians] during this difficult time of loss and mourning of a great statesman,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said in his address Friday after learning about the death of Mkapa.

President Benjamin Mkapa

Tanzania President John Magufuli announced Mkapa’s death Friday (July 24) morning. Benjamin Mkapa led the Tanzanian government delegation at the funeral of Kenya’s former president Daniel Moi in January.

The three days of national mourning begin today Monday through Wednesday, during which flags will fly at half-mast.

President Benjamin Mkapa

Benjamin Mkapa was Tanzania’s third president, succeeding Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who succeeded founding president Julius Nyerere. Mkapa served as Tanzania’s president for 10 years from 1995 to 2005. He also served as the editor of Tanzanian government newspaper, the Daily News, before he became president. Jakaya Kikwete succeeded Mkapa and John Magufuli succeeded Kiwete.

In Tanzania, they will observe seven days of national mourning in honour of Benjamin Mkapa.