Former President Moi cautions politicians against hate speech

Former President Daniel arap Moi opens the Kaproret Africa Inland Church in Konoin sub-county, Bomet County. He warned politicians against making inflammatory remarks that might divide Kenyans. [Photo: Nikko Tanui/Standard]

Former President Daniel arap Moi Sunday cautioned politicians against making inflammatory statements that could polarise the country.

Moi said some politicians' remarks are meant to incite Kenyans against each other.

"The politicians should instead come up with progressive ideas that can help build the nation. They should put the lives of young children and the economy before their own interests," he said.

Speaking Sunday when he attended an Easter Service and a fundraiser at Kaproret Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Konoin sub-county, Bomet County, the former President told politicians to put the interests of the country first.

"The country's unity is key and leaders should desist from making inflammatory statements meant to incite Kenyans against each other," he said.

The remarks by the former President come at a time political activities have intensified as the country gears up for next year's General Election.

Moi, who was joined at the service by Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat and National Water and Pipeline Corporation Chairman Julius Kones, also decried the low number of schools countrywide, compared to learners.

"Whenever I travel around, I note with sadness that there are lots of infrastructural developments but schools are countable in a situation where the country has experienced population explosion, leaving children to wander about," said Moi.

He challenged all the stakeholders in the education sector to build learning institutions beginning with primary schools if the country want to boost its skilled labour base.

"The only way a country can prosper and parents can expect assistance from their children in the future is if the children get quality education," said the former President.

 Salat informed Moi that a new Kanu wave had swept the South Rift region. "Mzee, South residents are back to Kanu to stay. They wandered far and wide and finally realised that all these other political parties were misleading them. They thus became tired and came back to Kanu. We were doing fine until Jubilee stole victory from us in the Kericho senatorial by election," said Salat.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Bomet branch Chairman Francis Tonui lamented that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto's administration had frustrated teachers by failing to honour the 50-60 per cent salary increment awarded them by the courts.