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Noah Cheploen @cheploennoah

Having risen from a high school teacher, Kabarak University Vice Chancellor Henry Kiplagat has witnessed former President Moi’s magnanimity first hand in the 30 years he has been at the institution. 

It was in 1992 that Prof Kiplagat was first employed at Moi High School Kabarak before rising to his current position and becoming the face of the institution—Moi’s pet project—in the process. 

In an interview with People Daily at his office, the VC talked of how Moi transformed the institution from a school to a large community of people from all corners of the country working in different departments. 

Kiplagat is one of the few individuals who interacted closely with the former President when he was in power and upon retiring in 2002. He says the number of children from poor backgrounds that Moi educated could be in the hundreds. 

“He was concerned with the needy and apart from paying fees for them, he also allowed his poor neighbours to collect anything they wanted from his farm during harvest,” he said.

Establish schools

For Moi, Kabarak was not just his residence, but a special place. That is why he called the place Kabarak, which in Kalenjin means “a heavenly home or elevated home”.

A national school, Moi High School Kabarak is one of the top academic performers in the country. The primary school, too, has also not been left behind in terms of academic excellence.  

 “He demonstrated his care and generosity by even buying shoes, pillows and many other items for all children in various schools… the number of people whom he paid fees for are very many,” he said.

According to the VC, Moi knew that the best way to transform society is through education and that was the driving force behind the move to establish Kabarak schools.

“He would have built a factory or a big hotel in this land but he decided to build schools…” he says.

“He was a man who lived according to a Chinese saying that if you are planning for a year you plant rice, for a decade you plant trees and for a lifetime you invest in education,” said Kiplagat.

Kiplagat remembers Moi as a stickler for time and rules. “If Sunday service was to start at 10.30am, by 10.25am he would be seated in the chapel,” he says.

He also had a razor sharp memory and never missed an opportunity to proclaim the day and time he was baptised in 1938. 

His love for the environment can be seen from the magnificent atmosphere at Kabarak.

Beautiful big trees cover both sides of the road. And, inside the well-manicured lawns, big trees of different species and a cool breeze offers unforgettable memories. 

Read bible

“Mzee Moi was extremely generous and a humble person. He always invited students to his residence and ate meals with them and challenged them to work even harder and be the best in the world,” says Kiplagat. 

The VC says Moi wanted Kabarak to be a self-contained community and that is why he launched Kabarak University Teaching, Research and Referral Mission Hospital, a state-of the art facility, in 2017. 

The 500-bed-facility is estimated to cost Sh45 billion and is designed to provide relief for patients suffering from terminal illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems.

Apart from providing a medical research centre, the hospital also offers specialties in cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurology and other diagnostic services as well as a funeral home, staff houses and a business centre, among others.

“Among these institutions, Kabarak University is the youngest and he had great plans… he always desired that Kabarak University becomes a world class university and he helped with resources in terms of infrastructure, equipment and personnel,” says Kiplagat.  

He wanted all the seven schools, that is: Law, Medicine, Nursing, Business and Economics, Engineering, Music and Performing Arts, to distinguish themselves by producing the best in their fields and most importantly, people of integrity. 

“His vision was that if you educate lawyers, train them in Christian perspective and if you’re training businessmen do it in Christian perspective… he knew that integrity is important in life,” he recalls.

“He left an indelible mark not only for Kabarak but for the entire education sector in Kenya and I believe in return the Lord blessed him,” says Kiplagat, adding: “When there was a huge famine in 1984, he received a bumper harvest and invited locals to his farm.” 

The VC says Moi put strong structures in place that will see Kabarak thrive after he is gone and part of this includes bringing on board his family.

Senator Gideon and Raymond (Rongai MP) are in the university council, the top decision making organ. 

“I am very confident they are going to fit in his shoes especially with the help of professionals here…” he said. 

Kiplagat recalls his last days with Moi when he called him and the provost to his residence one morning towards the end of last year.

“He asked us to pray and he was really happy. He was such a prayerful person and read his bible to the end.” 

The VC will play a central role when the university hosts thousands of people expected to attend the former Head of State’s burial on Wednesday.