Memories: When Moi helped officer’s wife

A former paramilitary officer has recounted how former President Daniel Moi (pictured) offered his official car to ferry his expectant wife to hospital and footed the bill.

James Oyaro Chweya recalls the fateful day when his wife Teresa Moraa developed labour pains at night in 1977 when Chweya was a General Service Unit inspector deployed at Kabarnet Gardens.

Chweya said his wife had just arrived at Kabarnet Gardens from Kisii to visit him when she started having labour pains. Without knowing that Mzee Moi was aware of the woman’s presence in the compound, Chweya and his colleagues were puzzled when Mzee Moi walked downstairs to inquire what was going on.

Mercedes Benz

“I was busy preparing how to take her to hospital using a Land Rover, we didn’t know Mzee was observing us from the balcony, he came down stairs and offered his Mercedes Benz to take my wife to hospital,’’ recalled Chweya.

Besides offering his car, Moi gave Chweya Sh2,000 to buy items that could be required at the hospital.

Next morning, Chweya said before Moi left for work, he called him to find out how his wife was fairing. “When Mzee was told we had been blessed with a boy, he was excited and said we should name him Moi,’’ he recalled. The president also footed the bill.