President Uhuru Kenyatta has told mourners at the state funeral of former President Daniel arap Moi that “he is not mourning the passing of an icon” but celebrating a “statesman and a giant in history”.
He said Mr Moi’s life journey closely mirrors all the stages of the country.
“He understood the value of Kenya being bigger than a single individual. He served humbly and diligently. When Kenyans spoke in 2002 [general elections], he chose to abide by their wishes and led his party into the opposition. He taught us that the opposition was a government in waiting and not an enemy of the sitting government,” Kenyatta said.
He added: “Under President Moi, great strides were made in education, women empowerment, widening the space for civil rights organisations as well as the deepening of our unity. On some of the darkest days, President Moi resolute strength calmed the nation.
President Moi recognised that the path to prosperity for individual African countries lay in promoting inter-African trade and building bridges among our people.
He guided the nation’s political journey into the maturity that we experience today. When time came to leave the stage, Mzee Moi did what was then the unthinkable. He voluntarily and without hesitation peacefully handed the reins of power… thereby he elevated his stature to that of a statesman.
Kenya is better to have had him as her son, her servant, her leader and her role model. We should all learn from his inspiring journey.”
