Retired President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi is dead, family members have confirmed.
The herdsboy who ascended to Kenya’s top political seat died Tuesday morning, surrounded by family at Nairobi Hospital.
According to official records, Daniel Moi died at 95 — his date of birth being recorded as 2nd September 1924.
Moi’s age has, however, been disputed by his long-serving Press Secretary Lee Njiru in a morning interview with Citizen TV.
“I will confirm this to you, Mzee had told me not to look at his ID card, I want to correct you, Moi was between 102 and 103-years-old not 95-years-old like everyone is saying,” Njiru said in the phone interview.
Njiru, who worked with late President Moi from 1978, mourned his former boss saying, “..he has been like father, my teacher, my leader, my mentor…”
Premonition of Moi’s death
A solemn-sounding Njiru also revealed that he had a ‘premonition’ of his late boss’s passing.
“For the last one week, I could not watch television. I could not even read a newspaper; there was a premonition. I was feeling tired the whole of this week,” Njiru narrated.
Njiru credited Daniel Moi for his personal and professional growth, saying he had been in the retired President’s employ for 42 years.
“To speak the absolute truth, I think I know Moi better than many other people, because I was employed to do so,” said Njiru, adding that his relationship with Moi transcended the professional space.
With an air of finality, Daniel Moi’s long-serving Spokesperson accepted that Moi’s death was ‘God’s intention’.
“From 1983, I have been counting on a piece of paper he has died 14 times that is according to the ill will of people… but this is real death; this is final,” Njiru said.
Daniel Moi will be be given a state funeral, with all appropriate civilian and full military honours.
