MP Yusuf Hassan reveals one of Mwai Kibaki's favourite musicians

Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan once attended a jazz concert in South Africa with former president Mwai Kibaki.

It was in 1997 when the legislator had just finished hosting Kibaki, for dinner in Johannesburg. Kibaki was touring the country following an invitation from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. 

At the time, Hassan was UNHCR’s Head of External and Media relations in Southwest and Central Asia. He also represented the agency in Southern Africa. 

Hassan would soon after decide to take Kibaki on a tour of the city, where they discovered that legendary jazz musician Hugh Masekela was performing that evening.

“Kibaki lightened up and said that Masekela was one of his favourite singers. As a jazz lover, I was excited and went to buy tickets but the show was sold out,” Hassan said in a tribute post on Twitter on Friday.

As Hassan returned to his vehicle empty-handed, he randomly encountered Masekela who he coincidentally had a history with.

“I knew Masekela from our exile days and he arranged for us to get in. He even announced the presence of Kibaki and his Kenyan delegation which included the late Kijana Wamalwa, Mukisa Kituyi, Joseph Munyao and Feroze Nowrojee among others,” said Hassan.

“They thoroughly enjoyed the show and stayed late into the night.”

Kibaki and his delegation would later head back to Kenya after concluding their visit. Years later, Hassan would later come back to Kenya, throwing his hat in the political arena, where he ended up clinching the Kamukunji MP seat under a PNU ticket.

“He was truly a transformative leader and a great statesman. A man of few words but lots of actions. Fare thee well,” Hassan said.