‘Kenya Airways Captain Daudi Kimuyu Kibati made the ultimate sacrifice,’ CS Kagwe says

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has sent a message of condolence to the family and friends of Captain Daudi Kimuyu Kibati who died after evacuating Kenyans from New York.

Also Read: KQ mourns Captain Daudi Kimuyu Kibati

According to the CS, the deceased took a major risk by operating KQ’s last flight from America, one of the most high-risk countries in the coronavirus pandemic.

“Capt. Kibati flew Kenyans back home on Wednesday March 26 before the government banned international flights. He managed to evacuate many Kenyans and non-Kenyans back to our country only for him to succumb to the COVID-19 disease,” Kagwe said.

“He made the ultimate sacrifice and Kenyans owe him a great deal,” the CS added.

Earlier on Saturday morning, colleagues from Kenya Airways lined up outside the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi to pay their last respects.

KQ Chief Human Resources Officer had sent a message of condolence on Friday.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Management and staff of Kenya Airways, we join the family of the late Captain Daudi Kimuyu Kibati in mourning their beloved one and pray that the Almighty God will strengthen them during this time of sorrow,” she said in a statement.

The burial service for Capt. Kibati was held at Maliku, Kitui on Saturday afternoon with only close family and friends in attendance.

On the day that Capt. Kibati flew the final Kenya Airways flight from New York to Nairobi, Governor Andrew Cuomo had just announced a lock-down.

This after the death toll in the city hit over 1,200 and health officials announced more than 90,000 coronavirus cases. On Friday, April 3, the city’s death toll rose to 1,867 as cases were reported to have risen to 245,658.

Kenya has so far confirmed 126 cases of coronavirus and four deaths with 4 people reported to have recovered from the COVID-19 disease.