How provincial administration helped ex-president rule nation
The late President Daniel arap Moi used the provincial administration to stamp his authority and keep himself abreast of burning issues across the country.
Moi also used administrators to rein in critics, especially politicians opposed to him.
Joseph Kaguthi, a long-serving administrator who served under Moi for many years, describes the former Head of State as a hands-on, shrewd and informed leader with a wide knowledge of the country, its people and needs.
It was through the administration that Moi understood issues touching on all communities.
According to Kaguthi, the provincial administration was key in the implementation of government policies, development and political agenda.
“He directed the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation to assign an Outside Broadcasting van in every provincial headquarters for the PC to articulate government policies to the people,” Kaguthi recalls.
Seek advise
Moi had great trust and faith in the administrators and would always seek their advice whenever visiting their areas of jurisdiction.
Says Kaguthi: “I think his liking for the provincial administration started during the Kenyatta reign. President Kenyatta hardly went to the grassroots and used Moi to do so. It was then that he came to appreciate the need to work with administrators.”
He says Moi was extremely loyal to Kenyatta and it was because of this that the founding father entrusted him with coordination of administrators.
“It was the task of the respective administrator to gather as much information on development projects completed by the government or those under implementation to hand to Mzee the information ahead of his visit,” Kaguthi narrates.
Provincial Commissioners (PCs) and district commissioners (DCs) were appointees of the president and Moi knew almost all by name.
For instance, all the eight PCs had hotlines installed at their offices and homes for communication with the president daily.
Win support
“Moi would call you at any time of the day using the hotline and the calls always centred on serious business,” Kaguthi said in an interview.
But on the other hand, Moi was ruthless to those fighting his government and many of such ilk ended up in jail.
“Those who dared interfere with his political interests he would deal with you very badly, sorry to say,” Kaguthi says.
However, in the case of the late opposition doyen, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Moi had to apply all tricks to win his support.
In 1993 during the Madaraka Day it came to pass.
Fund budget
“I was personally assigned to win Jaramogi’s confidence by sweet talking and giving him attention. I would go to Jaramogi’s residence next to Sunset Hotel in the evening where we would sit for hours. This was meant to show the opposition leader he was part of the government and it worked extremely well,” said Kaguthi.
“Moi was extremely generous, politically shrewd, he would tell you the implication of something political and it would come to pass,” he added.
“Mzee Moi would dish out a road there, a hospital, a school or a market until it became almost impossible to fund the budget. That was President Moi for -you,” says Kaguthi.
