Moi says he did not endorse Uhuru

By Moses Njagih

Retired President Daniel Moi has denied that he endorsed Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta for the presidency during the burial of former MP Njenga Karume.

Moi refuted claims carried in a section of the media (not The Standard) that he had thrown his weight behind the Gatundu South MP’s candidacy, saying he had been quoted out of context.

The retired Head of State said he had made remarks about Uhuru during the burial in relation to Central Kenya, which had lost two of its senior political leaders in Karume and former Environment Minister John Michuki within a span of one week.

"During the burial I emphasized the need for local MPs and councillors, alongside Uhuru Kenyatta to offer consolation and guidance to the people of Central Kenya . This was considering the earlier burial of Michuki, said Moi in a statement sent to newsrooms by his press secretary Mr Lee Njiru.

Former President Daniel Moi [PHOTO: TABITHA OTWORI]

Moi said his statement was taken out of context, leading to the misleading media report about his endorsement of Uhuru.

"I could not single out one candidate for support when there were many aspirants for the leadership of the country," said the retired President.

Moi stated that his mention of Uhuru was completely in regard to the loss that Central Kenya had suffered with the death of both Karume and Michuki, both of who were viewed as key leaders from the region and close allies of President Kibaki.

Moi attended the burial of the two leaders last week, terming their deaths as a big blow to not only the Central Kenya region but nationally.

At Kangema, during the burial of Michuki, Moi said that despite not being in the same political camps, they had remained close friends over the years.

The former President’s clarification of the statement he made at Karume’s burial will negate the perception that he will support Uhuru, who he had fronted in 2002 when he retired.

His decision to support Uhuru caused a rift within Kanu leading to the exit of party top leaders who formed the Rainbow Revolution, which later merged with another outfit, National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK), led then by Kibaki, late Vice President Kijana Wamalwa and Water minister Charity Ngilu to form National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), which removed Kanu from power.