Former Head of Public Service Dr Sally Kosgei gave a moving
tribute to the late Mzee Daniel Arap Moi.
Speaking during Moi’s funeral service in Kabarak on
Wednesday, Kosgei fondly remembered her first interaction with the former
President.
She said that although she was still young and fresh out of
college, Mzee Moi encouraged her to further her education up to PhD level.
On her interactions with Mzee Moi while in cabinet, Kosgei stated that her colleagues would often send her to the President since he treated women with a lot of respect.
“If he called me Daktari I knew I was okay…if he called me
Sally I knew I was fine but if he received me saying ‘child’ in his softest
voice, I knew I was in trouble.
“If he was very angry with me he would send Joshua Kulei…we
had many meetings on intelligence but everything was confidential…leaking of
information was out of the question,” she said.
Further, Kosgei reflected on the 2002 power-shift when Moi
had completed his term and his preferred successor Uhuru Kenyatta had been
floored in the election.
“I gave him the two possible speeches for Uhuru…he accepted
them and put them in his cabinet,” she recalled.
Kosgei also noted that when Mzee Moi was sworn in for the
last time, his speech was precise and echoed what he intended to do upon
completion of his term.
“On his instruction, the speech had only five paragraphs…three
of them starting with the same phrase, “In this my last term in office…” she
said.
Adding: “He was ready to hand over power.”
Mzee Moi was also strict timekeeper that he once fired a Minister who arrived late for dinner with former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
“I will always remain grateful to Moi for his generosity,
support, professionalism and above all, respect.
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“Rest in peace Sir,” concluded Dr Kosgei.
Kenyans online lauded the speech saying Sally must have been
one of the people who knew the former President well.