From a teacher to astute leader uniting an entire continent

Regarded as the professor of Kenyan politics, former President Daniel Moi rose from a herdsboy in the rural village of Sacho, Baringo County, to become one of the most powerful leaders in Africa.

His early education through African Inland Mission School in Kabartonjo and later at Tambach Teachers Training College transformed him into one of the country’s pioneer teachers.

His zeal for formal education and commitment to spiritual life presented him an opportunity to be among the top political leaders.

Moi was in 1955 elected as a member of the Rift Valley Legislative Council (Legco). He was reelected in 1957, and was among the leaders picked to draft Kenya’s first Constitution.

Before independence, Kenya’s colonial masters – Britain – had already identified Moi’s potential and appointed him Minister for Education in 1961.

After independence, founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta appointed him the Minister for Home Affairs in 1964 and three years later made him the country’s second in command.

After Kenyatta’s death in 1978, Moi succeeded him in a democratic election where he was elected president unopposed after holding the office in an acting capacity for three months.

This was despite previous unsuccessful attempts by a section of leaders to bar him from taking over as president in the event of Kenyatta’s death.

While the country remained a one-party State since 1964 under Kenyatta’s rule, Moi heeded to the calls for multi-party politics at the end of 1991.

In 1992, Moi won the presidential election, giving him another five-year term in office. He subsequently secured another term after winning the 1997 election.

Towards the tail end of his term, there were attempts to change the Constitution to allow him run for another term, but he declared that he would not seek re-election and was ready for retirement.

During his 24-year rule, Moi believed in home-grown solutions for African problems, which won him admiration among other African leaders who elected him chair for Organisation of African Unity (OAU), currently African Union (AU), for two terms between 1981 and 1983.

Regional stabiliser

Under his leadership as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Kenya placed itself as a strategic regional stabiliser, allowing the country to deploy its troops to other war-torn countries in Africa and beyond.

His legacy continues being celebrated in different spheres of life nearly two decades since he left power and a year after his demise.

Living posthumously is the retired Head of State’s philosophy of peace, love and unity, which he stood for to his last day at State House, setting a positive precedent that caught many by surprise.

In the 2002 General Election, Moi preferred Uhuru Kenyatta – now president – to take over from him through Kanu ticket, but he lost to Narc’s Mwai Kibaki who became Kenya’s third president.

Many close to Moi never thought he would hand over power to a different person other than his preferred successor, but to their dismay he did the contrary – for the sake of a peaceful transition.

“When it became apparent Uhuru was losing the election to Kibaki we asked Moi what next. To our surprise he told us to prepare a speech conceding defeat. Nobody thought he would respond this way,” Deputy President William Ruto said in a past interview.

Uhuru, a political student of Mzee Moi, whose second and final term as president is ending next year, is striving to walk in the same shoes at a time when the country is sharply divided.

“We continue to make Kenya a better nation for all its people as we build bridges of brotherhood among our peoples by weaving a stronger fabric of patriotism and nationhood. We have tremendous opportunities to foster unity, prosperity, positive social change and the deepening of democratic gains and enhancing the rule of law,” said President Kenyatta while delivering the New Year Message on December 31, 2019.

United communities

Despite hailing from the minority Tugen sub-tribe, Moi effortlessly united all sub-tribes of the Kalenjin community, a move he replicated among all other communities in the country amidspontaneous clashes, which he quelled with ease.

His 24 years in the house on the hill depicted him as a man with love beyond his tribe as he distributed development projects, especially on education and infrastructure, across the country.

This is partly captured by Michael Mwenda, an Associate Professor at the University of Central Arkansas, in his book The State and the University Experience in East Africa, who hails Moi for his reforms geared towards empowering all communities.

“Moi’s education reforms were aimed at addressing ethnic disparities in university access. This he saw as a means to shore up his support among the marginalised communities,” Mwenda wrote.

It is through his efforts that many schools spread across the country are today named after him as a form of recognition by communities benefiting from the projects.

While many politicians exhibit apprehension in nurturing upcoming leaders to avert competition, Moi crossed the borders in watering budding political greenhorns into firebrands.

Moi is credited with mentoring a sizable number of influential leaders in Kenya today.

This includes Uhuru who described Moi’s death as a personal loss as he broke the news of his demise to the nation.