Former Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura who is also the Chief Administrative Secretary in Ministry of East Africa Community and Regional Development landed in Bujumbura on Friday June 26th 2020 to attend the state funeral of fallen Burundi President Pierre Nkurunzinza.
Obura who is representing President Kenyatta was accompanied by his personal assistant Leackey Osiemo and liaison officer Lawrence Ineah Nyanja flew in Kenya Airforce plane and was received by the Burundian Vice president H.E. Prosper Bozambana and the Kenyan ambassador to Burundi H.E Ken Vitisa. Uhuru had mourned the passing on of his outgoing Burundi counterpart Nkurunziza as a big loss to EAC. He said that Nkurunziza was an outstanding regional counterpart who served his country with distinction as Head of State and Government and worked tirelessly for the peace and stability of his country and the Great Lakes Region.
The burial was however not attended by any of the sitting East African Community heads of states.
Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa represented President John Magufuli with a 21-member delegation, which included retired president Jakaya Kikwete and his wife, Mama Salma Kikwete, while Uganda was represented by Matayo Kyaligonza, the country’s ambassador to Burundi. Its not clear if South Sudan and Rwanda were represented. While in power, Nkurunziza became diplomatically isolated after 2015, when his decision to run for a third term sparked protests.
The State Funeral was led by Burundi’s newly elected president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was sworn in on 18th June 2020 to replace Nkurunziza.
