Inside old Nakuru flats where President Moi began life
Just 20 metres from Nakuru Central Police Station and about 300 metres from the former Rift Valley Provincial headquarters, an old flat lies nonchalantly.
In early 1960s, a two-bedroomed apartment at this flat went for Sh180 monthly rent. This is where the late retired President Daniel Moi started out life with his wife Lena and his children.
The Mois occupied an apartment in the ground floor of the Delamere Flats then owned by the defunct Municipal Council of Nakuru.
The flats have since been renamed Old Moi Flats while a newer apartment block nearby was named New Moi Flats.
George Chemirmir was Moi’s neighbour, and his father Edward Chemirmir was a close friend of the retired President.
He recalls that, as a young boy, he would visit the Moi house, where the head of the family had a “reserved” seat.
“Nobody could dare sit on the seat even in Moi’s absence,” he said.
George said his father taught Moi how to drive when the latter acquired a Land Rover in the 60s.
He says the retired President had a special relationship with Nakuru town, where he held hosted New Year Eve’s party at the State House, Nakuru as a habit.
It was at Delamere Flats Moi was named Home Affairs Cabinet Minister in 1963 by then President Kenyatta. Having enrolled his children at the nearby St Joseph Primary School where they mingled with those of ordinary Kenyans, Moi was hesitant to shift his family to Nairobi.
“It was a humble abode for a politician of his caliber. I remember seeing him hosting scores of visitors here,” says 56-year-old Dominic Mwendwa whose parents were Moi’s neighbours.
Yet, the Sh180 rent was not affordable at the time. Former civic leader William Atinga said very few Africans could afford to live in a two bed-roomed house and that Sh180 was “very exorbitant”.
“The estate was a reserve of the whites and when they moved out after Independence the residences were taken over by wealthy members of the Asian community. For a very long time Moi had very few African neighbours,” he says
Jane Marucha, the current occupant of “Moi’s house” is elated to know she shared the house with a dignitary. -KNA
