Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was Britain's closest ally even despite the fact that he was jailed for over 9 years during the fight for independence waged by Mau Mau.
When he finally took over in 1963, Kenyatta did not chase white settlers as planned by some of radical indeork can fighters, instead, he treated them as key stakeholders in economy.
At this time, the British were worried of Kenyatta's failing health, with frequent angina and demensia conditions making him unfit to govern.
In 1968, when Kenyatta went almost to a comma, London through British spy-cum cabinet minister Bruce McKenzie started secret preparations for Kenyatta's burial.
The Agriculture minister, in collaboration with top government officials in Britain, started a secret burial committee with an aim of streamlining succession.
In the committee, the team also recruited six Kenyans, whose role was to work together to help Kenyatta discharge his duties despite the old age.
Dr Njoroge Mungai, Charles Njonjo and Daniel Moi were placed in the committee with the British people trusting them as suitable people to take over.
A specialcoffin was made in London and an embalmer was prepared. The embalmer was to take an immediately available plane to Nairobi together with the coffin once Kenyatta's death was announced.
Organisers believed that making the Queen part of the plan would set a 'bad' precedent in Commonwealth nations where she would be required to attend funeral of every dead president.
Despite these robust plans, the organisers had to wait for ten years before the actual death of Mzee Kenyatta. It's not clear whether it's the same coffin which was used.
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta died in 1978 at State House Mombasa and was succeeded by Daniel Moi, who went to to rule Kenya for a whopping 24 years.