President Uhuru Kenyatta declares 7 days of mourning in honour of President Magufuli

President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a seven-day period of national mourning in Kenya in honour of the late Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli who succumbed to heart complications.

President Uhuru Kenyatta also directed that the Kenyan flag and that of the East African Community to fly at half mast in all public and Kenyan diplomatic missions abroad from Thursday, March 18 until sunset on the day Magufuli will be buried.

In a televised address from State House Nairobi, Kenyatta mourned Magufuli as an illustrious leader and a champion of pan-Africanism, adding that in the passing of the Tanzanian Head of State he had lost a friend, colleague and visionary ally.

“On behalf of the government and people of Kenya, I convey our sincere condolences to the First lady of Tanzania Janeth Magufuli, their children, the entire Magufuli family and indeed affirm our deep solidarity with the government and people of Tanzania during this challenging time. Tanzania remains in our thoughts and prayers,” said Kenyatta.

“Africa and the world has lost an illustrious leader whose vision, passion and immense leadership propelled the Nation of Tanzania forward and also steer the East Africa Community to closer integration. On the continental stage the late President Magufuli was a champion of pan Africanism.”

Magufuli’s death was announced Wednesday night by Tanzanian Vice President Samia Hassan Suluhu. She said Magufuli succumbed to a heart disease at Mzena State Hospital in Dar es Salaam. He was aged 61 years.