How ex-President Moi shared out his vast empire before death
Zadock Angira and Mercy Mwai
Each of the departed former President Daniel arap Moi’s children will get a share of his vast estate.
This was revealed yesterday as funeral arrangements started in Nairobi, with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) taking a leading role after the burial date was fixed for Wednesday, February 12, 2020.
Speaking to People Daily, retired AIC Bishop Silas Yego, said the former Head of State had spent considerable time-sharing out his estate reputed to be worth billions of shillings to all his defendants before illness took a toll on him.
“This was something that he did sometimes back before his condition deteriorated and lost his voice. He made sure he shared out his property among all his children and dependants.
The Will was deposited with one of his lawyers that I cannot tell you,” Bishop Yego, who was Moi spiritual leader and close confidante said last evening.
Moi had eight children; Jennifer, Jonathan, Raymond, Philip, John Mark, Doris, June and Gideon.
Bishop Yego said the former President had told him that he did not want his children to fight over his property after his death, having seen what was happening to many prominent families after the demise of the patriarchs.
Apart from asking the bishop to administer for him the last sacrament, Moi had also asked the cleric to preside over his funeral service at Nyayo National Stadium and during the burial at his Kabarak home, Nakuru County.
“We have informed the government about the former President’s wish and we hope that they will abide by it,” he said.
He also disclosed Moi’s last wish before he lost his voice: “ A prayer for his children to remain united and for Kenya to enjoy peace.
Ceremonial arrangements
Th e former President had vast business interests in many sectors from large-scale farming, banking, real estate, transport and logistics, education and media.
Yesterday, a government appointed team to plan a State funeral for the former President, who died at the Nairobi Hospital on Tuesday morning, held its first meeting even as preparations for the viewing of the body at Parliament Buildings kicked off in earnest.
A tentative programme shows members of the public will be allowed to view Moi’s body at Parliament Buildings for three days from tomorrow where the former President will lie in State.
Government spokesman Col (rtd) Cyrus Oguna last evening said the chairman of the inter-ministerial committee Joseph Kinyua, who is also the Head of the Civil Service, will issue a comprehensive statement tomorrow at 11 am.
“As we all know, this is going to be an elaborate State funeral that everything needs to be planned well. We have been in meetings the whole day planning for it. We shall give you all the details tomorrow,” Oguna said.
Immediately President Uhuru Kenyatta announced Moi’s death and directed that he be accorded a state funeral, the KDF took over the coordination, planning, security, and the ceremonial arrangements of the funeral.
The body of the former President is expected to lie in state at the foyer in the National Assembly for easy viewing.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is at the centre of organising the funeral and attended yesterday’s meeting.
Other senior state officials present included Defence Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho, Chief of Defence Forces Samson Mwathethe, Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai and other service commanders.
A State funeral is a national tribute reserved for a head of state and is conducted for all persons who hold, or held, the Office of the President.
Insiders who did not want to be named revealed that another team had been put in place to oversee the process and ensure that protocol is observed.
According to the team leader who did not want to be quoted, although Parliament had not been informed officially whether the body will viewed from there, preparations had started with teams tasked with specific duties.
Run smoothly
Ground work and beautification was going on with gardeners pruning flowers as painters put a fresh court on the walls.
The workers said they were under strict instructions to complete the job before Friday.
“Parliament has not been officially notified but we cannot take chances. We have started our preparations to ensure that everything will run smoothly. In any case we are also preparing for resumption of sittings next week,” the source said.
He added that the procedure that was followed when the body of Kenya’s eighth Vice-President Kijana Wamalwa was taken to Parliament will be used in the Moi case. Wamalwa’s body lay in state for 10 days and national mourning lasted one month.
President Kenyatta on Tuesday morning directed the former Head of State be accorded a State funeral with all the appropriate civilian and full military honours.
The President directed: “In honour of the life and times of the Late Great Mzee Daniel Toroitich arap Moi,...I, Uhuru Kenyatta, under the authority vested in me as the President of the Republic of Kenya and the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, do hereby order and direct that the Late Daniel Toroitich arap Moi shall be accorded a State Funeral, with all appropriate Civilian and Full Military Honours being rendered and observed.”
President Kenyatta further directed that the nation will observe a period of national mourning from Tuesday until the day of his funeral and that the Kenyan flag be flown at half-mast at State House, State Lodges, all public buildings and public grounds.
From Tuesday morning, security was beefed up at and around the Lee Funeral Home and at any given time, there were 10 soldiers from the Military Police at the main door to the morgue.
