Raila, Kalonzo pay their last respects to President Moi

Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

ODM leader Raila Odinga and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday joined other Kenyans in paying their last respects to the  former President Daniel arap Moi on the final day of public viewing.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula, who doubles up as Ford Kenya leader also led his party MPs in viewing the body and lauded Moi as a person who loved education and extended educational facilities across the country.

Nyandarua Deputy Governor and chairman of Deputy Governors Forum John Mwaniki similarly lead his colleagues  in eulogising the former president as a towering figure who had footprints in the education sector.

He said Moi’s style of leadership was such that power of the government could be felt and respected and asked the current political leaders to have respect for the fallen president.

This is as hundreds of Kenyans stood in queues patiently waiting  to catch a final glimpse of Moi while he lay in state.

Raila, the African Union (AU) High Representative on Infrastructure, described Moi as staunch freedom fighter, who fought for independence of the country.

He said  the former president and his father the late Jaramogi Odinga were among the first Africans to be elected to the Legislative Council of Kenya (LegCo) in 1957.

“I came to know of Moi in 1958, he is a man who has done a lot of things for this country,” Raila said as he condoled with Moi’s family at the National Assembly lobby.

“Mzee was full of life, even when I visited him last at Kabarak, he was still as humorous as he was when in power. He has taught us many things, may he rest in eternal peace,” he added.  

 Contrary to the expectations of many people, who thought that he would don a Luo traditional regalia and chant Luo dirges like he did at the funeral of former vice president Michael Wamalwa; Raila resorted to low-key formal mourning.

After viewing the body, he  met Moi’s sons Gideon  (Baringo Senator) and Raymond (Rongai MP) who have been receiving guests coming to condole with the family.

“To the family of our president  Moi, on behalf of the family of Jaramogi and my family, we would like to convey our heartfelt condolences,” he said.

 Kalonzo mourned  Moi as a towering figure who just, like everybody else, is not an angel and may have had his fair share of mistakes and shortcomings during his regime.

Describing him as a unifying figure when he took power in 1978, the wiper leader said at the height of military coups across Africa,  Moi avoided any military rule and held the country intact. 

“Moi was able to save the country from coup attempts, where as our neighbours and West Africa countries, it was a norm at that time,” he added.

Kalonzo, who was once Moi’s Foreign Minister (1991-1997), also asked Kenyans to respect elders even in their death saying they were icons of our country.

He was responding to a section of Kenyans who have castigated  Moi’s 24 year regime.

Kalonzo who had just landed from Addis Abba, Ethiopia where he had attended the heads of state summit as a special envoy on Peace and stability to South Sudan, said African leaders are mourning the passing away of Moi.

Peace lover

Wetangula described the ex-president  as a person who loved peace not only in East African Community (EAC) but the Horn of Africa and Africa as a continent.

“Mzee loved peace to an extent that he dissolved his political party KADU to join Kanu to foster peace.

His peace efforts were seen in Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan among others,” he said.

He described the former President as a person who upon finishing his second term, handed over power in a smooth transition and never criticised his successors until his demise.

Accompanied by his six legislators Wetang’ula said  Moi’s love for peace extended beyond Africa, adding that during his tenure, Kenya sent its troops to Sierra Leone, Namibia, Ivory Coast, Yugoslavia and East Timor.

Kiminini MP and National Assembly Deputy Minority Whip Chris Wamalwa eulogised Moi as a person who helped him through his education at Friends School Kamusinga-Bungoma county.

“He paid my school fees through a bursary when I was at Friends School Kamusinga. He was a humble person who never showed off,” he said.