VIDEO- LITTLE KNOWN FACTS OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

As President Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday, February 4 prepares to lead the nation in the first anniversary of Kenya’s longest-serving President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, we look back at the journey of the departed political giant.

Moi, who was regarded as the professor of Kenyan politics, rose from a herdsboy in the rural village of Sacho, Baringo County, to become one of the most powerful leaders in Africa.

His early education through African Inland Mission School in Kabartonjo and later at Tambach Teachers Training College transformed him into one of the country’s pioneer teachers.

His zeal for formal education and commitment to spiritual life presented him an opportunity to be among the top political leaders.

Moi was in 1955 elected as a member of the Rift Valley Legislative Council (Legco). He was reelected in 1957 and was among the leaders picked to draft Kenya’s first Constitution.

Before independence, Kenya’s colonial masters – Britain – had already identified Moi’s potential and appointed him Minister for Education in 1961.

After independence, founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta appointed him the Minister for Home Affairs in 1964 and three years later made him the country’s second in command.

After Kenyatta’s death in 1978, Moi succeeded him in a democratic election where he was elected president unopposed after holding the office in an acting capacity for three months.

This was despite previous unsuccessful attempts by a section of leaders to bar him from taking over as president in the event of Kenyatta’s death.

While the country remained a one-party State since 1964 under Kenyatta’s rule, Moi heeded to the calls for multi-party politics at the end of 1991.

In 1992, Moi won the presidential election, giving him another five-year term in office. He subsequently secured another term after winning the 1997 election.

Towards the tail end of his term, there were attempts to change the Constitution to allow him run for another term, but he declared that he would not seek re-election and was ready for retirement.

During his 24-year rule, Moi believed in home-grown solutions for African problems, which won him admiration among other African leaders who elected him chair for Organisation of African Unity (OAU), currently African Union (AU), for two terms between 1981 and 1983.

Under his leadership as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Kenya placed itself as a strategic regional stabiliser, allowing the country to deploy its troops to other war-torn countries in Africa and beyond.

His legacy continues being celebrated in different spheres of life nearly two decades since he left power and a year after his demise.

In the 2002 General Election, Moi preferred Uhuru Kenyatta – now president – to take over from him through Kanu ticket, but he lost to Narc’s Mwai Kibaki who became Kenya’s third president.

Many close to Moi never thought he would hand over power to a different person other than his preferred successor, but to their dismay he did the contrary – for the sake of a peaceful transition.

“When it became apparent Uhuru was losing the election to Kibaki we asked Moi what next. To our surprise he told us to prepare a speech conceding defeat. Nobody thought he would respond this way,”Deputy President William Ruto said in a past interview.

The memorial service will be held today, February 4 at his Kabarak home where dignitaries have been invited.

Daniel Moi died on February 4, 2020. Moi died at the age of 95.

Uhuru eulogised Moi as one of Africa’s greatest, a man who made Kenya and the continent immeasurably better.

Source: KenyaToday