Kibaki Flown To South Africa for Treatment

Retired president Mwai Kibaki was on Sunday afternoon flown to South Africa for specialized treatment after he fell ill over the weekend.

Government officials and family members were guarded with information, but Nation found out that the former president was taken to Karen Hospital emergency unit on Saturday night at around 9pm.

It was then feared that the 84 year old may have suffered a stroke on Sunday.

Family members, reportedly on the advice of doctors, decided to have him treated abroad, and that’s when he was flown to South Africa. According to Nation, Kibaki was taken out of the hospital in an ambulance with police escort. “The ambulance was between a police chase car, two Mercedes Benzes and two Toyota VXs,” said one of the sources who spoke to the newspaper.

He was flown on a chartered flight from Wilson Airport.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was among those who had visited him at Karen Hospital earlier in the day.

“We expect him to return soon, and Kenyans will be informed of his progress as appropriate. We ask Kenyans to pray for him, and to respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time,” read a statement issued through the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit.

According to a source who spoke to Standard, Kibaki has been going for routine checkups at the Karen Hospital (owned by his personal doctor Dr Dan Gikonyo), but yesterday was an emergency.

“It has been a routine for him to go for medical check-ups at the Karen hospital but Saturday’s was an emergency,” revealed the source.

We wish him quick recovery.