A British-educated economist, Kibaki’s unflappable demeanour concealed political guile that finally won him the presidency after four decades as lawmaker, government minister and then vice president to his predecessor, Daniel arap Moi.

Kibaki, whose death was announced President Uhuru Kenyatta, is credited with reviving Kenya’s then ailing economy, but his tenure was marred by deadly violence that killed more than 1,200 Kenyans following his disputed re-election in December 2007.

The opposition had been far ahead when journalists were hurriedly ejected from the election commission. Hours later, Kibaki’s win by a narrow margin was announced. Smoke immediately began rising from fires lit by protesters.

While announcing Kibaki’s death, Kenyatta recalled his long public service, including being a member of parliament for five decades.

“Kibaki was a quintessential patriot whose legacy of civic responsibility will continue to inspire generations of Kenyans long into our future,” Kenyatta said in a televised address.

Kenyatta did not state the cause of death but Kibaki has been ailing for some time, domestic media reported.

Politicians took a break from campaigning for a general election scheduled for Aug. 9, to mourn Kibaki.

“He stood firmly and laid the foundation for the economic fruits that Kenya is experiencing today,” said Musalia Mudavadi, who is backing Deputy President William Ruto in the presidential contest.

But Kibaki failed to tackle endemic graft, which remains a key demand of voters in the upcoming polls that pit Ruto against Raila Odinga, a former veteran opposition leader now embraced by the political establishment.

Kibaki had also tried to bring peace to regional hotspots, said Moses Wetengula, who served in the cabinet. “As his foreign minister, I ran many missions to stabilise Somalia and other pockets of instability including Congo,” Wetangula said.

Kenyan peacekeepers are still serving in southern Somalia.

By Duncan Miriri.

(Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Additional reporting by Hereward Holland; Editing by Hugh Lawson, John Stonestreet, William Maclean)