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Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa, one of the longest serving politicians in the country has eulogised former President Daniel arap Moi as a man whose policies and actions empowered women.

Nyiva, who became Kenya’s first female Cabinet minister when President Moi appointed her into his Cabinet in 1995, has also lauded Moi’s efforts to stamp out tribalism.

“It was Moi who appointed me as the first woman minister in the history of Kenya.

Before that, he had appointed several women assistant minister and other senior positions in his government,” says Nyiva.

She also credits Moi with playing a big role in ensuring she led a successful delegation to the Beijing Women conference of 1995.

She singles out Sally Kosgei, as among the most powerful public servants during Moi’s era.

Kosgei served in various positions before rising to the position of Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of Public Service where she served between 2001 and 2003.

Earlier, Kosgei served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation between 1992 and 1998.

It was during Moi’s rule that the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation also thrived, although he was often accused of turning the organisation into a wing of the ruling party Kanu.

Uniting Kenyans

The former Culture and Social Services minister, who served as Kitui Woman Representative between 2013 and 2017, said  Moi treated all Members of Parliament and other leaders equally, without any ethnic preference. 

“During his time as the President, there was no question of which tribe you belong. He was a real statesman who walked the talk.

When he talked about uniting Kenyans, he actually did it unlike other politicians who preach water and drink wine,” says the former Kitui West MP.

Good Christian

She says Moi always kept his office open to everyone. “When I became a minister, Moi would hold regular meetings with us.

I would go freely to State House and he would help me out if I had any problem in the ministry,” she says.

Nyiva describes Moi as a man who was in touch with the people and God.

“He was a good Christian. He used to go to church every Sunday and when you went to him to consult on a Christian matter, you would always get your questions answered,” says Nyiva, who retired from national politics in 2017.