The founding father the Late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s funeral was planned 10 years before his eventual demise.
Contingency arrangements were planned in high secrecy and without Mzee Kenyatta’s knowledge by a close knit group of ministers working with the British Government Commonwealth Office staff at the Lord Chamberlain’s Office a department in the British Royal Household that handles royal funerals and other ceremonies.
Who were the politicians behind the scheme?
The group consisted of the then Vice- President Daniel arap Moi, Bruce McKenzie , Dr Njoroge Mungai and Charles Njonjo.
It was this team that started deliberating on the timing and location of the funeral, the lying-in-state, the coffin and transport.
But things did not go as planned and the waiting was rather long. While they had thought that Kenyatta would die soon, it took another 10 years.
Why were this preparations made?
The reality first hit his close confidants in 1967 that he was not immortal, after he suffered a heart attack in Mombasa that made him unconscious for three days.
They then discreetly started plans for a lavish State funeral, according to Daily Nation.
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