Lawmakers yesterday spent an afternoon session recalling the late President Daniel arap Moi’s good deeds.
The MPs remembered Moi for uniting the country through inclusive appointments, despite facing strong opposition from various quarters.
Legislators from Nyanza fondly remembered how Moi picked ministers from the region, despite his long-running political differences with the then Opposition leader Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale described Moi as a self-made politician.
“His role in the revival of the East Africa Community and his decision to repeal Section 2 (A) to allow multi-party democracy can’t be gainsaid,” he said, adding that Mzee will be remembered for his famous quote “siasa mbaya, maisha mbaya (bad politics, bad life)”.
During the special sitting, which started with the MPs viewing the body that was lying in state in the corridor leading to the main Chambers, some MPs shared tales of how the late president touched their lives through some of his projects, particularly in the education sector.
Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina recalled Moi giving his school a bull to slaughter when he visited their institution, and thanked him for the famous maziwa ya Nyayo.
“He built schools and churches. He kept Kenya stable when other African countries were falling apart,” said Mr Wainaina.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi recalled travelling with Moi.
“When I was a student leader, he gave me an opportunity to fly with him to Rwanda,” said Cheboi.
Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma said it was during Moi’s administration that Luo Nyanza had the largest number of serving ministers “with big portfolios”.
Facing opposition
Uriri legislator Mark Nyamita added that: “Members of my region (Luo Nyanza) were well represented in Moi’s administration despite his facing opposition from the area.”
His Ugunja counterpart Opiyo Wandayi noted that: “Even though some of us were not entirely in agreement with his style of leadership, he managed to unite the country. As leaders, we need to borrow a lot from him so that we can minimise squabbles by political leaders.”
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Kirinyaga Woman Rep Wangui Ngirichi praised Moi for YK92, stating that the Kanu youth wing helped in mentoring young people into leadership.
Deputy President William Ruto and Cyrus Jirongo are some of the politicians associated with the youth wing that helped spearhead Moi’s re-election in 1992.
Siaya Woman Rep Christine Ombaka recalled how Moi turned up at Sinyolo Girls, where she was a principal, following an attack in the school.
“When Sinyolo Girls was attacked and the girls assaulted, Moi came visiting two weeks later. He ordered that electricity be installed and gave us Sh50,000 to fence the school,” she said.
Suna West Peter Masara said Moi build the first girls’ school in his constituency, boosting education in the area.
By the close of the three-day public viewing of the late president’s body in Parliament, 213,000 Kenyans had been recorded as having queued to pay their last respects.