Kenya's first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta died in August 1978.
However, Sunday Nation revealed that his funeral was planned 10 years before he died. The planning was done by Kenyan and British officials after Kenyatta suffered a heart attack while in Mombasa. This made those close to him believe he would die someday and deserved a special funeral.
Leaders involved were Kenyatta's personal physician and Cabinet Minister Dr Njoroge Mungai, Attorney-General Charles Njonjo, Vice- President Daniel Arap Moi, Agriculture Minister Bruce McKenzie and the Chief of Staff at Defence Headquarters Nairobi, Colonel J.R. Anderson.
The group contracted the best funeral service provider in the UK, J.H. Kenyon Ltd Funeral Directors, 45 Edgeware Road London, to handle Jomo's last ceremony. The entity provided John Kenyon to offer professional advice.
“This firm apparently has exceptional experience in matters of this nature. The firm will be able to give a great deal of advice and indicate further measures that can and should be attended to well in advance,” said Tollboy of the Commonwealth Office as reported by Daily Nation.
Col Anderson worked on Kenyatta's coffin specifications among others. He provided Kenyatta's body measurements as height 5’8” and 20” width across the shoulder.
“Let me know how much Meru Oaks you require in what length and I will arrange for it to be sent to you,” he wrote.
Communication concerning the matter wad also kept a top-secret as directed by Col Anderson.
“All letters and communications are to be kept on a secret basis. They will be sealed in an envelope addressed to me personally as follows, J.R. Anderson OBE, Chief of Staff Defence Headquarters, Box 668 Nairobi. These letters and communications must be enclosed in a mother envelope addressed to R Tallboy ESQ, Commonwealth Office, Downing Street, London, for his personal attention. He will then forward them to me," Anderson wrote.