President Uhuru Kenyatta and retired President Mwai Kibaki have eulogised former Finance Minister David Mwiraria.
Uhuru said Mwiraria was a great man who devoted the prime years of his life to the service of the nation.
Mwiraria died at Karen Hospital, Nairobi, after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.
Uhuru said Mwiraria’s unwavering loyalty and service is exemplary and self-evident.
"He was equally generous, cheerful and friendly. His outstanding service will remain a source of inspiration and motivation to many aspiring leaders."
He said Mwiraria was also a person of enormous influence, saying his wise counsel and guidance will be missed by many.
"As we mourn and pay homage to this great man, let us also celebrate his life and achievements," he added.
For his part, Kibaki said Mwiraria was a friend, confidant, and co-worker.
"He was a trusted ally. His diligence, humility and forthrightness were rare, even epic."
"And so was his ability to rally persons of diverse persuasions to a common cause," Kibaki said.
In a press statement on Friday, Kibaki said Mwiraria commanded respect across the board effortlessly.
"His leadership toolkit was greatly endowed as was his brilliance, and particularly so, his grasp of economics," he said.
Kibaki said Kenya has lost an illustrious public servant whose focus was on delivering the best for the good of all.
"I stand with the family at this moment of loss and pray that God whose mercies are boundless will comfort them and afford them the solace only He can extend during such a time," he said.
On Thursday, ODM leader Raila Odinga mourned Mwiraria as an honest and diligent public servant.
"He had the interests of the nation at heart. Mwiraria will fondly be remembered for the role he played in reforming critical institutions like KRA."
"I will remember fondly the work we did together of reforming critical institutions like the Kenya Revenue Authority, public procurement and infrastructure financing and delivery when the National Rainbow Coalition took power in 2002."
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