Moi’s instruments of power intact, claims elders’ council

Instruments of power given to former President Daniel arap Moi when he was crowned a Kalenjin kingpin are intact.

Lembus Council of Elders chair Joseph Leboo yesterday said they were not aware of the alleged returning of instruments used to crown Moi to anyone.

Mr Leboo denied knowing the elders claiming to have the instruments. He disputed claims that a group of 20 Tugen elders returned the leadership regalia Nandi elders gave Moi in 1955.

“The regalia... cannot be handed back to the elders. It remains to be the property of the family. Leave the family of Moi alone. The elders should desist from spreading rumours and propaganda. We do not know them,” he said.

He added that it was not in order to crown and declare anyone a community kingpin “by the roadside”. He said there were procedures of declaring one a kingpin.

Leboo said the regalia is the property of the family of the late President Moi and was never returned to the elders.

Last week Myoot Kipsigis Council of Elders said the leadership regalia had to be returned since Moi had died.

“We are here to dispute claims that the instruments originated from the elders here in Baringo and was handed to others. We don’t know the elders nor do we know who gave them what they purport to have,” Leboo said.

He added that they had been receiving calls asking them who gave out the regalia. He said they were not involved in the alleged giving out of the regalia.

Leboo said anything that belonged to the late retired president must wait until the family shares out his property.

He said they would keep off politics to safeguard peace, adding: “We laid Mzee to rest just the other day... It is not in order to have the family share what belonged to the late Mzee with other people. It is the family and the elders who know that what Mzee owned belonged to that home".

Michael Chirchir said while Moi was being laid to rest, only the rungu, popularly known as “fimbo ya Nyayo”, was touched while others remained intact.

He said he gave out the rungu to Rongai MP Raymond Moi, who in turn handed it to Baringo Senator Gideon Moi. “We have not sat down as a family... We have a tradition to follow. Just the same way the rungu was handed over, we will hand over the other things,” Chirchir said.

He said the regalia given to Moi could only be used to crown a family member.

The elders said those who gave Moi the instruments had died.

Sammy Kiragu, an elder, said no outsider would be allowed to lay claim to the instruments given to Moi, as they remain the property of the family.