President Uhuru orders flags be flown half mast in honour of the late Pierre Nkurunziza

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday directed that Kenyan flags and the Flag of the East African Community be flown at half-mast at all Public Buildings and Public Grounds and wherever else throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya in the memory of the late Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The same directive extends to the Kenya’s Diplomatic Missions abroad and will be in effect from Saturday, June 13 to the sunset of the day when the late president will be interred.

“May the late President Pierre Nkurunziza rest in eternal peace,” the Presidential Proclamation read.

President Nkurunziza died on June 9 aged 55 years.

Reports indicate that he died at the Karusi Fiftieth Anniversary Hospital following a cardiac arrest on June 8, 2020.

“He watched a volleyball match on Saturday afternoon in Ngozi but became unwell later that night. He was rushed to hospital and by Sunday his health had improved. He was able to interact with people who were around him,” a statement from the Government Spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye read.

Burundi is the only African country that did not stop playing of sports games during the coronavirus pandemic.

The country also recently held their presidential elections which saw the governing party candidate, retired General Evariste

Ndayishimiye, win with 69 percent of the vote.

On Monday afternoon, President Nkurunziza’s health deteriorated drastically: doctors are said to have tried to resuscitate him for several hours but to no avail.

“Burundi has lost a son, a President and a key figure of patriotism. He was an example to the people of Burundi as someone who respected God. I urge Burundians to remain calm and continue praying for the soul of the President,” the Government Spokesman said.

The Burundian Government announced seven days of national mourning with the country’s flags flying half-mast during the period.

Nkurunziza had previously received global backlash for doing little to stop the spread of coronavirus in his country.

Earlier this month, a top World Health Organization (WHO) representative and three other experts who were coordinating coronavirus response were ordered to leave the country.