How Moi prepared family for his after life

When retired President Daniel arap Moi died a year ago today, on February 4, 2020,  at the age of 95 years, there were fears that wrangles over his vast wealth would erupt in the family.

However, the family of the former Head of State, steered by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, has proven skeptics wrong.

As the late Moi’s family gathers at his lush green home inside the expansive Kabarak farm today, it will be a success story.

That expansive farm also hosts a primary and secondary school, a church and university, a demonstration of his unwavering love for education.

Although Moi’s first anniversary will be marked with much pomp and fanfare unlike events preceding his burial last year, eminent persons, family friends and dignitaries, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, are expected to attend the ceremony.

Last evening Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi confirmed having been invited to the event which he said he would attend.

Yesterday, retired AIC Bishop Silas Yego, a close friend of the departed president, told the People Daily that Moi’s family was strong and united.

Yego said Mzee had prepared his children well and put all his things in order.

He observed that Moi picked Gideon as the leader of the family way before he died, adding that he also distributed his wealth amongst his children leaving no room for feuds or internal fights.

Retired cleric

“Nobody is trying to outshine Gideon because everybody knows their position,” the cleric said.

He added: “He (Moi) shared his wealth and properties very well and everyone is happy and satisfied.” Moi had extensive interests across all the spheres of the economy ranging from banking, land, media, transport and hospitality industry. 

Yego said his successor, Bishop Abraham, will conduct the ceremony.  Sources within the family described the event that is expected to start at 10am as “strictly family affair” and therefore, there will be no much activities. 

“It is a family event. That is all I can say for now,” Senator Gideon’s aide Alex Kiprotich said.

Contacted, Deputy President William Ruto’s spokesman Emmanuel Talam expressed surprise that there was such a function, saying Ruto was not invited. 

Ruto will be in Kwale to commission some projects funded by the Lunga Lunga Constituency Constituency Development Fund committee before addressing a series of public rallies.

“Is there such a ceremony? The DP has not received any invitation. You know those are private functions the DP is never invited to. We will be in Kwale,” Talam said.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat on the other hand said several dignitaries would grace the function.  “We are expecting quite a number of family friends. It is, however, a private function,” Salat said. 

During Moi’s burial last year, his son and Rongai MP Raymond handed over the famous rungu (baton) to Gideon in a brief ceremony witnessed by elders as a sign that the leadership had formally shifted from the late Moi to the senator.

“Although I am the eldest son, Gideon is our leader when it comes to politics. That is why I am giving him the rungu,” Raymond said at the time, reinforcing the fact that Gideon was seen as Moi’s political heir.

Father’s shoes

Made from ivory, the rungu signified leadership and Mzee Moi always held it tightly for all the years he was at the helm of the country’s leadership.

After Moi’s retirement in 2002, Gideon stepped into his father’s shoes, replacing him as the Baringo Central MP, a seat the older Moi had held for more than three decades.

He also took over the leadership of the country’s oldest party, Kanu from his father after President Uhuru Kenyatta held it briefly in 2002-2006.

Gideon has been proposed as a presidential candidate in the next General Election.

The senator Moi has been on the forefront campaigning for the Building Bridges Initiative constitutional amendment bill, as he looks to fill his father’s big political shoes.

He has already traversed various parts of the country with his latest meeting with Ward Reps in Mandera last week.