Uhuru mourns U.S. civil rights icon Jesse Jackson

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta/HANDOUT

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has joined world leaders in mourning renowned U.S. civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, who died Tuesday morning aged 84.

In a condolence message, Uhuru described Jackson as a towering figure in the global struggle for justice, equality and human dignity, praising his lifelong commitment to advancing civil rights and expanding democratic freedoms in the United States and beyond.

The former Head of State said Jackson’s activism, moral courage and unwavering advocacy for marginalised communities left an indelible mark on global human rights movements.

Jackson, founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, emerged as one of the most influential voices in the American civil rights movement, working alongside leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.

Over the decades, he championed voting rights, economic justice and social inclusion, earning international recognition for his advocacy and diplomacy.

Uhuru also recalled Jackson’s longstanding ties with Kenya and the African continent, highlighting his presence during Kenya’s historic political transition in 2013.

Jackson travelled to Nairobi in April that year to attend Uhuru’s inauguration at Kasarani Stadium, a move seen as underscoring the deep bonds between Kenya and the United States.

According to Uhuru, Jackson’s participation in the ceremony symbolised solidarity, democratic partnership and shared aspirations for inclusive governance.

“As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate a life dedicated to justice, equality and the empowerment of the downtrodden,” Uhuru said.

He added that Jackson’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of leaders across the world.

He extended sympathies to Jackson’s family, including his wife Jacqueline and their children, as well as to the American people and the global civil rights community, noting that the cleric’s legacy would remain part of the history of democratic progress worldwide.

Jackson died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family, they said in a statement.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017 and was hospitalised for observation last November after being diagnosed with a degenerative condition.

Jackson fought for civil rights alongside Martin Luther King Jr in the 1960s and was twice a candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.

"Our father was a servant leader - not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world," the Jackson family said.

He launched two social justice and activism organisations: Operation PUSH in 1971, and the National Rainbow Coalition a dozen years later.

He was present with King when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968.

He rose to prominence in the 1960s as a leader in Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Born on 8 October 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson became involved in politics at an early age.

Jesse Jackson was a prominent civil rights campaigner who ran twice for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in 1984 and 1988.