Kenyans have bid final farewell to their former President Daniel arap Moi who died last week after staying in hospital for a while.
President arap Moi died at the age of 95 and was Kenya’s longest serving president after ruling Kenya for 24 years.
On Tuesday a state funeral was held in his honour at the Nyayo National Stadium where thousands had gathered.
The former president was buried at his Kabarak home next to his wife Lena in line with Kalenjin traditions.
At his burial service, many Kenyans, politicians and relatives of arap Moi have been paying glowing tributes.
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga who struck a reconciliatory note despite the two men’s bitter past told mourners that “We send him [away] as a hero of our country… we forgave each other and made our peace.”
Mr Odinga was imprisoned for six years by then President Moi’s administration over his suspected role in the 1982 attempted coup.
2/4 The former President was lowered into the grave as the KDF fired 19 cannons in honour of the man who led the country for 24 years and ensured it remained stable in the midst of turmoil all across Africa. As the cannons were fired @kdfinfo fighter jets performed a flypast. pic.twitter.com/hGzJZElldG
— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) February 12, 2020
President Uhuru Kenyatta also eulogised former President Daniel arap Moi as a leader who will be missed.
“Moi held my hand from the time my father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, passed away. I have lost my father, my mentor my teacher and let me say that truly we shall miss him.
May God grant this giant of Africa eternal rest and peace until we meet again.”
Moi replaced Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta after his death in 1978 and rallied Kenyans to join in building the country.
But after a failed coup plot to overthrow him Moi gained notoriety for clamping down on freedoms and torturing opposition politicians without trial.
In 1990 President Moi came under intense pressure to introduce multi-party democracy and presidential term limits.
Source: Africafeeds.com
