Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi yesterday narrated how powerful individuals in former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration plotted to dispossess the late Daniel arap Moi of his Kabarnet Gardens land.
The scheme that was hatched just after Narc came to power in 2002 was, however, thwarted by Mr Kibaki, who told off his associates for attempting it.
According to Mr Murungi, it was after Kibaki declined the plan that he ordered that a title deed be processed in the name of Moi.
The governor said he and the then Lands Cabinet Minister Amos Kimunya were at the heart of the scheme.
“(Kibaki told us) ‘You go and prepare a title deed in the name of the former president, and the two of you deliver it to him by the end of this week’. So the title deed was prepared and Kimunya called me to tell me it was ready,” said Kiraitu when he visited the family.
Moi’s advice
“I told him (Kimunya) that I am not feeling well. Kimunya brought it and he was well received. They stayed with Mzee for one-and-a-half hours. He was even told of some land that had no title deeds, and he went and prepared them,” the county boss said.
“So when he came back and told me, ‘I have to take you back. Mzee is so nice he is not even in a hurry’. That’s how this place got the title. That was the height of political noise. The boss (Kibaki) is the one who slowed down many things.”
Kiraitu recalled how Moi told them that leadership is no joke, and remembered how the country’s second president backed the failed 2005 referendum, and finally became a friend of the Kibaki regime that took over from him.
“You are dealing with fire. He came to support us with the referendum and we all failed. That is how friendship was built and he became the best friend to the Kibaki regime and ourselves,” Kiraitu said.
The governor was speaking at Kabarnet Gardens in Nairobi as top political leaders, Cabinet secretaries, diplomats and heads of various independent commissions continued to throng the home yesterday to condole with Moi’s family and friends.
The leaders recalled their encounters with the man who ruled the country for 24 years, highlighting his humility and role in turning the country into a multiparty democracy.
The leaders – who started arriving at the residence as early as 9am – were received by the former president’s sons, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, Rongai MP Raymond Moi and Philip Moi.
The residence was a hive of activity the entire day as choirs belted out song after song to console the hundreds of mourners who turned up to mourn with the family.
Governor Kiraitu is among those that fled into exile after Moi regime declared some human rights activitis persona non granta. Kiraitu a Harvard educated lawyer was among those that were jailed by Moi. Other lawyers who run into troule with Moi include Gitobu Imanyara, James Orengo, Kungu Karumba, Paul Muite, John Khaminwa among others
Leave a Reply