Over 10 African leaders have eulogized Kenya’s second President the late Daniel Arap Moi as the greatest statesman and a giant of history.
Speaking at the Nyayo National Stadium during National Prayer Service for the fallen head of state, the leaders led by the host President Uhuru Kenyatta, said Moi helped see Kenya through the hard-fought independence.
They said Moi was the biggest Pan Africanist who was IGAD’s founding father, peace crusader and the brainchild behind the revival of the East African Community.
” I saw for myself three attributes of Mzee Moi who had sense of patriotism, spirit of East Africa and reconciliation, which are rare to come by,” Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said.
He added that Kenya has realized peace since independence owing to prevailing unity.
He recalled Moi’s move to close the border with Uganda during his reign, but their meeting at Amongura Primary School in Teso South ended the stalemate owing to Moi’s reconciliatory heart,” he said.
President Kenyatta said he is not mourning the death of Mzee Moi, but he is celebrating the life of a giant of history and a statesman.
He said the fallen former president chose to abide by people’s wish when he handed over power to Mwai Kibaki in 2002.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir eulogized Moi as their hero and icon of South Sudan’s independence, and freedom.
Other presidents who attended the funeral service included Sahle-Work Zewdwe of Ethiopia, Brahi Ehali (Sahrawi), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), former Tanzanian Presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Benjamin Mkapa, and Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga recalled how Moi wronged him, noting that they had long buried the hatchet.
“What we want now is to carry forward the good things Moi initiated through the BBI to bring all Kenyans together,” said Raila.
Moi’s son Gideon said his father had wonderful sense of humor and love, recalling how he forgave him when he (Gideon) crashed his car.
“Our father was passionate about God, gentleman, favorite of meat and liked watching wrestling with Big Daddy as his favorite wrestler,” Gideon Moi said.
Moi’s son Raymond who read the Eulogy of his father stunned mourners when he revealed how Moi’s dreams were shattered by colonialists who denied him a chance to join Alliance High School in 1945, forcing him to join a Teachers Training College to pursue his diploma in education.