By THE CITIZEN More by this AuthorBy ALLAN OLINGO More by this AuthorA plane carrying Kenyan envoys to the funeral of former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa turned back to Nairobi because of bad weather, officials in Dar-es-Salaam said Tuesday. Tanzanian Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister Prof Palamagamba Kabudi announced during the farewell ceremony of the former leader at Uhuru Stadium that Kenyan officials could not attend the event. But Kenyan officials said the plane “developed mechanical challenges”, forcing it to turn back over Arusha. AdvertisementOn Sunday, his family said that the former Tanzanian president was suffering from malaria and died of a heart attack, scotching rumours that he succumbed to coronavirus. Mkapa was instrumental as the lead negotiator of the 2007-2008 post-election peace deal signed between former Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki and ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

Source: Daily Nation July 28, 2020 12:28 UTC