Contrary to the belief of many Kenyans, Moi wasn’t among Kenya’s pumpkins of the time of who most were Kenyatta’s kitchen cabinet members and consigliere that wrongly viewed him as a passing cloud that ended hanging over Kenya for 24 good years. By being the Vice President for a long time, Moi’s demeanour had already informed Kenyans what type of the person he was. Many didn’t even expect Moi would become president of Kenya despite the fact that Kenya’s constitution was clear that if president of republic becomes incapable of running the state either from illness, death or anything, his Vice President would be sworn in as President to fill the gap for ninety days before convening elections for a new President. In fact, this is what happened when Kenyatta died in office. So, too, given that Moi got Presidency by the way of filling in the gap after the death of his boss, he had no vows to make good on in the beginning of his Presidency that was expected to end after ninety days. When he became president after serving ninety days the constitution stipulates, many thought Moi would put some democratic rule in place.
As one of the worst dictators Africa has ever had, Moi left a very bad legacy. Apart from presiding over the most brutal and corrupt regime, he left a vandalised country after robbing and wrecking it for over two decades. Some his relics, like his predecessor, is his name on many Kenya’s hallmarks such as, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Moi Air Base, Moi International Airport, Moi University, and Moi everything meaningful in Kenya, among others. Also, Goldenberg scandal will not only define Moi as a corrupt ruler but will also feature high in Moi’s history book. So, too, Moi left a country with malodorous tribalism even though he inherited this vice from his predecessor which he expanded on it so as to entrench it systematically.
Moi, indeed, followed the footprints of his predecessor religiously and zealously to his advantage. For within no time, Moi started to do exactly as Kenyatta did for the entire period that he ruled Kenya. He grabbed land; and named almost everything worthwhile after himself. Kenyans used to hear and see Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, University, and Hospitals, streets, Avenues and whatnot not to forget Mama Ngina (Kenyatta’s wife) streets and avenues and Uhuru (Kenyatta’s son current Kenya President) streets and avenues. Soon–under Moi–Kenyans woke up to evidencing Moi everything. The difference however is that Moi did not name anything after his wife or children. Following the footprints was at work once again to end up after over two decades of corruption, mega theft, intolerance, assassinations you name it.
After bracing himself in the power well, Moi used tokenism and nepotism as the two most powerful tools to remove his nemeses and reward loyalty. If anything, this is the skill–he learned from his predecessor–which Moi even perfected more skillfully. It seems that Moi learnt every trick his mentor was using to weather whatever challenges he faced. For, Moi embarked on eliminating and frustrating his enemies. Out of sheer fear of losing power if not rust for power, like his predecessor, Moi turned his government in a killing machine for detractors and whoever he perceived to be a threat to his grip on power. Moi ruled Kenya ruthlessly with an iron fist for the whole time he was in power minus four years before the coup attempt that changed him for good. After defeating and getting rid of himself of Kenyatta’s inner sanctum that wanted to superimpose their person from among themselves for president, Moi stayed put so as to become unwaveringly immovable for over twenty years that followed.
Moi’s style of rewarding loyalty and cronyism ruined Kenya’s economy horrendously. Just like Kenyatta, land and high positions in government became Moi’s cards he used to win the game. He kept his card close to his chest so much that he became terribly unpredictable. Moi’s managerial skills of state business were very much wanting.
Moi did not favour and reward his friends only but also his family. His Machiavellian family members did not miss out at the high table at which the national cake was devoured by a select few. Moi’s children became super rich just soon after their father became president. They solicited money from public banks and corporations simply because they had a carte blanche for being the children of the strongman. As if allowing his children, friends and family members to illegally enjoy national cake was not enough, Moi was so generous to his guests and levellers. Many people who paid him a courtesy call or who attended his meetings or who just visited him at the state house did not go empty handed. He used to fork money out to whoever that seemed to please him either at his home or in the meetings he used to attend regularly in various parts of Kenya.
No way can one complete any analysis about Moi without touching on endemic corruption which, sometimes, can be synonymous with his name, his regime and his legacy. Like any dishonest and nihilistic manager of state business, Moi will be remembered for bad things he did to Kenya and Kenyans, especially the deaths of his opponents not to mention gross violations of human rights and robbing the country in conjunction with Western countries. This is the man who destroyed Kenya that’s now iconising and lionising him. What a lucky that Moi was! Indeed, he was many in one.
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