By Taban Henry
President Salva Kiir on Saturday returned home from the Kenyan capital Nairobi after he attended the funeral of former Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki.
Kiir and his accompanying delegation arrived at the Juba International Airport on Saturday evening.
Last Thursday, the President left the country for Nairobi where he joined a number of African heads of state at the funeral of late Kibaki at Nyayo stadium.
Kibaki was laid to his final rest on Saturday.
President Kiir said South Sudan owes President Kibaki special gratitude in helping it achieve independence.
“It is through the right of self-determination that today you see the President of the independent Republic South Sudan Salva Kiir here. We can say with confidence that we owe President Mwai Kibaki special gratitude for giving us the freedom and independence we are enjoying today,” he said.
The Minister of Cabinet Affairs read the speech on his behalf.
The former Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki who was elected in 2002 passed away on Friday, he is praised for transforming the country’s infrastructure, agriculture and education sector.
Last week upon receiving the news regarding the death of the former Kenyan President, Kiir declared a three-day mourning in the country which he ordered the South Sudan Flag to be flown at half-mast across all the government institutions including the diplomatic missions as a sign of adoration to the late and his entire country.
The government of the Republic of South Sudan was shocked after receiving the grief-stricken news concerning the death of the former Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. According to the statement quoted from the official Presidential page, President Salva Kiir upon his arrival at the Kenyatta International Airport was received by Prof. Margret Kobia the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Senior Citizen Affairs and the Special Program in coordination with South Sudanese Ambassador Chol Mawut in Kenya.