KENYA: Bishops in Kenya Pay Tribute To Country’s Former Late President Daniel Arap Moi
The late President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi
Two days after the death of Kenya’s second President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, Catholic Bishops under their umbrella body of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have paid tribute to the former President who died on Tuesday, February 4 at the age of 95.
“The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) on their own behalf and on behalf of the Catholic fraternity in Kenya wish to express profound gratitude to God for the gift of our late President, Hon. Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi,” read an excerpt of a statement by the Bishops.
Known as the longest serving President in Kenya since independence, the Late Hon. Moi lead the country for 24years which the prelates acknowledged saying, “He worked hard for this Nation from humble beginnings, to take charge of the country’s top leadership office for many years.
The late President has been recognized as a religious person who believed and trusted in God in his leadership, a spiritual aspect which was observed by Kenyans.
“As we mourn with fellow Kenyans, we also remember the life of a man who believed in God and manifested this with actions,” the Bishops acknowledged in their tribute message and added, “the late Mzee Moi prayed to God for guidance and always put God before all that he intended to do. We have a living example of a God-fearing man who frequented worship with other Kenyans with unfailing commitment.”
Testifying to Moi’s Christian life in a video clip as one who was committed to Church, Presiding Bishop Silas Yego of African Inland Church (AIC) where the late president was a member said, “Moi knew when to submit to the authority of God especially Church leaders. Anytime the country faced huge challenges, he was quick to seek council from Church leaders with the view to find divine intervention.”
“Recalling the 1998 bomb blast where so many people were killed, he (the former president) was shattered and we had prayers with him at the State House; he needed God,” Bishop Yego recalled and added, “We could see a Christian who was asking God for help.”
The Catholic Bishops in their statement also recognized the longest serving President as a lover of peace saying, “…we join the Nation in celebrating the life of a great leader who committed his entire life to the cause of peace, love and unity he believed in and passed his message with passion and humour, as well (as with) the seriousness it deserved.”
The Bishops further condoled with the family members of President Moi saying, “We send our deepest sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of the late Mzee Moi. We also condole with those who depended on his guidance, generosity and friendship.”
The death of the former President was officially announced through a Presidential proclamation by the Incumbent President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta.
He will be laid to rest on Wednesday, February 12, at his Kabarak home and he becomes the Fifth Kenyan to be accorded a state funeral since Kenya attained independence in 1963.
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
