Former President Mwai Kibaki yesterday eulogised his predecessor President Daniel Arap Moi as a hero and a man with charisma, recalling the many years they spent together in politics.
According to Kenya’s third president, Mzee Moi was a true statesman adding that his commitment to hand over power in peace after two decades as Head of State demonstrated he was a noble person who had his country at heart.
“Daniel Arap Moi’s legacy is deeply etched in the unfolding memoir of our nation. His contribution to the Kenya we all desire is also indelibly tattooed in the annals of our national history,” a statement sent to newsrooms yesterday read in part.Mr Kibaki served under the patriarch as Vice-President for 10 years, from 1978 to 1988. He was also a health minister from 1988 to 1991, again under President Moi’s reign.
Yesterday, Kibaki praised Mzee Moi saying his mastery of politics of peace helped avert crisis in the country and the region.”Over time, I have had a chance to appreciate the best of Mzee Moi’s statesmanship and skillfulness in the conduct of statecraft both during the blissful and tumultuous moments that Kenya has traversed,” said Kibaki.
He continued: “With time, his mastery at thwarting crises became legendary as was his ability to assert state authority. That is largely how Kenya stabilised as a number of countries in the region and continent suffered disruptions and long periods of civil unrest.”
President Kibaki recalled Mzee Moi’s service to the country, first as a teacher and later as a political leader. He narrated that President Moi was elected in 1955 as a Member of the Legislative Council representing the Rift Valley up till 1960.
Kenya’s second President then joined the late Ronald Ngala and founded the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU). Kibaki added that his predecessor was instrumental to political foundation of the independent Kenya.
The former President said Mzee Moi decision to allow multi-party rule in 1992 shaped the country to a democracy and space for more leaders to advocate for change.“As the political atmosphere in Kenya progressively underwent transformation, so did President Moi.
To his credit, it is during his tenure as Head of State when political pluralism was reinstated in Kenya. Clearly, the return of multipartyism has opened up Kenya’s democratic space in ways hitherto unimagined,” he added.Kibaki’s view is that Mzee Moi’s charm would be displayed on December 30, 002 when he handed over the instrument of powers to him.
“His willingness to readily usher the next Head of State remains a badge of honour on his leadership as well as statesmanship credentials,” said Kibaki adding that the deceased was and remained a servant and a person of the people even when he retired.
