By Betty Luke
The National Council of Elders chair Phares Rutere is set to be buried today at his BBC home.
Guests, friends, leaders and government officials continue to stream into a tent set at the home with a capacity of more than 2000 people.
Among leaders expected at the send off ceremony is President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, National Assembly Speaker Justine Muturi, Chief Justice Martha Koome and Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu among others.
Elders from across country and outside are also expected at the event.
The late Rutere died on May 26, 2021 at a Nairobi Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for Covid-19 related symptoms.
He was among the first four people from former Eastern Province to be selected to study at the Kenya Institute of Administration where he undertook a course in Administration Management.
The octogenarian proceeded to London Royal Institute of Public Administration in the United Kingdom for further studies in Human Resource Management after rejoining KIA to study Advanced Personnel Management Course.
Mr Rutere started his first employment as a clerical officer in the Wajir District Commissioner’s office and was later transferred in the same capacity to Isiolo DC’s office in 1964.
He would later be moved to Meru as the Deputy District clerk. He was later promoted to the position of a Personnel officer and transfered to Coast Province in the Provincial Commissioner’s office.
He was later transfered to the office of the President, Harambee House, in the same capacity.
Mzee Rutere, was a member of Meru University Council for two terms, was among the founding trustees of Former Lewa Education Trust and was once a member of National Cohesion and Integration Taskforce during former President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure.
He led a Kenyan delegation to a meeting of African leaders in Libya to meet the late Muammar Gaddafi who was pushing for establishment of United States of Africa. He was on his return awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) by President Kibaki.
Mr Rutere leaves behind wife Rosemary Kaguri, seven children and fourteen grandchildren.
