Ailing Mandela in Kenya; He May Have Pneumonia

Black nationalist leader Nelson Mandela, who reportedly has pneumonia, cut short a visit to Ethiopia on Wednesday and flew to Kenya, where he arrived looking weary and sick.

Mandela arrived on a charter flight with his wife, Winnie. The 71-year-old African National Congress leader walked slowly down the airplane stairs to the runway and used both hands to clutch the stair rail and support himself.

After greeting President Daniel Arap Moi and his Cabinet, and waving to a small crowd of airport workers and security officials, Mandela and Moi climbed into the president’s limousine and were driven away.

Winnie Mandela left in a separate vehicle.

The Star newspaper of Johannesburg said Mandela had contracted a slight case of pneumonia and was seeking treatment in Nairobi.

However, a member of Mandela’s entourage, contacted at Moi’s official residence, said Mandela got a slight cold while in Ethiopia.

Mandela, who was in Ethiopia for the annual Organization of African Unity summit, cut short that part of his trip by one day to fly to Nairobi.

Concerns about Mandela’s health have arisen several times during his six-week tour through Europe, North America and Africa.