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Former president Daniel arap Moi’s  influence on Kenyans was on display even in death as leaders and Kenyans paid glowing tribute to him.

Flags flew at half-mast as Kenyans mourned the country’s second Head of State.

According to his press secretary, Moi rested at 5:20am at Nairobi Hospital following months of ill health.

“Mzee passed away peacefully. I was by his side. As a family we accept,” said Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, as he announced his father’s passing.

Later, his son Raymond Moi who is the MP for Rongai told the press that his father may have been older than initially thought due to poor record keeping of births in the early 1900s, creating a puzzle over his death.

“As much as we have been saddened by his death, we also feel it is a celebration because he has lived his life to the fullest,” he said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta led the country in mourning Moi whom he fondly eulogised as “a great man of an African State.”

He announced a period of national mourning for Moi, who died aged 95 at Nairobi Hospital saying that his steady hand guided Kenya through challenges.

“He remained a deeply committed family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and earnest friend to many.

Above all else, he was a devoted Christian, who championed the rights of all persons of all faiths,” he said.

It was a military affair at Lee Funeral Home where the retired president’s body lay. Security was tight with all military units and police manning the facility.

Access to facility

Mzee Moi’s body was taken to the facility a few minutes after 8am. Initially, only Moi’s family members were allowed to access the facility.

Signifying the weight of his death, Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe, Kenya Navy and Kenya Air Force as well as Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and his deputies were all present at the morgue.

They all wore black armband on top of their military regalia and police uniform, customary of the armed forces when they mourn senior figures. 

Pallbearers comprising of military police were also at the facility and are expected to take charge of the preparation of the body.

They made a two-line formation at the main entrance of the morgue, similar to those seen during parades at national events. 

Uhuru announced that Moi will be accorded a State Funeral, with all appropriate civilian and full military honours being rendered and observed.

Movement in and out of the morgue was restricted to close family members, relatives, friends and politicians.

Several roads leading to Lee Funeral were also blocked and only selected cars allowed to drive through as a heavy contingent of GSU officers patrolled outside the morgue. 

At the same time, anybody allowed into the premises had to be confirmed a move  which saw some MPs and journalists locked out.

As this happened, hundreds of Kenyans stared from a distance trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening at Lee.

Receive treatment

Military doctors and pathologists were also seen walking into mortuary as it emerged that Nairobi Hospital, where Moi was receiving treatment, was heavily guarded soldiers.

  It was not clear whether a post-mortem would be conducted on Moi. National Coroners Act, 2017 states that a post mortem can be ordered by a coroner for the purpose of establishing the cause of death.

Among notable personalities who came to comfort the family was Deputy President William Ruto, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i his Labour and Sports counterparts Simon Chelugui and Amina Mohamed respectively as well as Energy’s Charles Keter. Defence Cabinent Secretary Monica Juma was also present.

Pay respects

Amani National Congress Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula were also present to pay their respects to their political mentor.

Moi era politicians including former Lugari MP Cyrus Girongo, former Westlands MP Fred Gumo, former Deputy State House Comptroller Franklin Bett and  Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat were also present. 

Wetang’ula said while Moi may have ruled the country with an iron fist, his contributions to the nation far outweighed his transgression.

“His transgressions can be forgiven,” he said, comments that were echoed by Mudavadi who described him as a leader who loved Kenya.

Bett on the other hand eulogised Moi as a lover of peace who did not hold grudges.

“Moi used to tell me to keep anger in my lungs and not in my heart…in my lungs, I  will breathe it out but in my heart it has no room to escape,’ he recalled.