Daniel Arap Moi: Kenya's longest-serving president dies at 95
Tue Feb 04, 2020 01:22:pm Africa
2.3K By Afam Jude Offor
Former Kenyan president, Daniel Arap Moi, who ruled the country for 24 years, has died, at the age of 95. Moi was pronounced dead on the early morning of Tuesday, February 4, by medics at The Nairobi Hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
He was first rushed to the hospital on October 29, 2019, after his health deteriorated and was admitted to the ICU. Moi took the mantle of leadership from the country's first president, late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, in 1978 and reigned for 24 years before relinquishing power in 2002. He remained in stable condition until July 30, 2006, when he was involved in a road accident in Limuru while travelling to Kabarak from Machakos where he had presided over a graduation ceremony at Scott Theological College. The renowned KANU leader developed the knee problem and has been in and out of the hospital since then. The late former president underwent minor knee surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi on January 27, 2017. On March 11, 2018, Moi was flown to Israel for a knee check-up before returning to the country several days later. The retired head of state has also been receiving private medication at his Kabarak home with the family keeping the status of his health a top-secret. Moi has not been active in politics for a long time, but a number of top politicians have been visiting him to seek advice and political blessings thanks to his vast knowledge and experience in Kenyan politics. He was born on September 2, 1924, in Kabarak village, Sacho division, Baringo County. The ex-president attended Kapsabet High School and later joined Tambach Teachers Training College in the Keiyo District where he trained as a teacher and served in the profession from 1946 to 1955. In 1955, he entered politics and was elected Member of the Legislative Council for Rift Valley. Moi was re-elected in the Legco in 1957. Moi became the Minister of Education in the pre-independence government of 1960–1961. He was among the senior politicians who formed Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) that challenged Jomo Kenyatta's Kenya African National Union (KANU). He became a close ally of Kenyatta in 1964 and he accepted to dissolve KADU and joined the then ruling KANU outfit. Moi was appointed the country's second vice president in 1967 after Kenyatta orchestrated the ouster of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. He would later become the country's second president in I978 following Kenyatta's death.
He was first rushed to the hospital on October 29, 2019, after his health deteriorated and was admitted to the ICU. Moi took the mantle of leadership from the country's first president, late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, in 1978 and reigned for 24 years before relinquishing power in 2002. He remained in stable condition until July 30, 2006, when he was involved in a road accident in Limuru while travelling to Kabarak from Machakos where he had presided over a graduation ceremony at Scott Theological College. The renowned KANU leader developed the knee problem and has been in and out of the hospital since then. The late former president underwent minor knee surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi on January 27, 2017. On March 11, 2018, Moi was flown to Israel for a knee check-up before returning to the country several days later. The retired head of state has also been receiving private medication at his Kabarak home with the family keeping the status of his health a top-secret. Moi has not been active in politics for a long time, but a number of top politicians have been visiting him to seek advice and political blessings thanks to his vast knowledge and experience in Kenyan politics. He was born on September 2, 1924, in Kabarak village, Sacho division, Baringo County. The ex-president attended Kapsabet High School and later joined Tambach Teachers Training College in the Keiyo District where he trained as a teacher and served in the profession from 1946 to 1955. In 1955, he entered politics and was elected Member of the Legislative Council for Rift Valley. Moi was re-elected in the Legco in 1957. Moi became the Minister of Education in the pre-independence government of 1960–1961. He was among the senior politicians who formed Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) that challenged Jomo Kenyatta's Kenya African National Union (KANU). He became a close ally of Kenyatta in 1964 and he accepted to dissolve KADU and joined the then ruling KANU outfit. Moi was appointed the country's second vice president in 1967 after Kenyatta orchestrated the ouster of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. He would later become the country's second president in I978 following Kenyatta's death.
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