THE LIFE AND LEADERSHIP STYLE OF THE SECOND KENYAN

PRESIDENT DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOI

By
Jacob Kipchillis
MBTH/9587/0/17

Class Assignment Presentation Paper

Presented to Dr. Rutere
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for
MBT 500, Foundations of Leadership

Pan Africa Christian University

9th October, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...............................................................................................ii

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ i
2. LIFE STORY OF MOI ...................................................................................... iii
3. LEADERSHIP JOURNEY OF MOI ................................................................... v
4. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF MOI ................................................................. v

1.1 The opening of the new Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ........................ v
1.2 Expansion of health facilities ........................................................................... v
1.3 The Ngoroko saga ........................................................................................... vi
1.4 International terrorism ..................................................................................... vi
1.5 Transformation of Kanu .................................................................................. vi
1.6 Moi International Airport ................................................................................ vi
1.7 Turkwell Gorge, other energy projects ........................................................... vi
1.8 Free school milk programme........................................................................... vi
1.9 University education expansion ...................................................................... vi
1.10 Revival of the East African Community ....................................................vii
1.11 Tourism .......................................................................................................vii
1.12 Kenya Revenue Authority ..........................................................................vii
1.13 Moi and global peace ..................................................................................vii
1.14 Agriculture ..................................................................................................vii
1.15 Building of churches and support of Christian values ................................vii

5. MAJOR FAILURES OF MOI’S LEADERSHIP ............................................ viii

6. LESSONS WE LEARN FROM MOI’S LEADERSHIP................................. viii
7. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................ viii
8. REFERENCE ................................................................................................... viii

2
1. INTRODUCTION
In this presentation the writer will discuss the life and story of the second president of
the republic of Kenya; Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, hereafter referred to as Moi which is used
and well known by most Kenyan citizens. The presenter will also look at the leadership skills
and journey in consideration of his highlights and or lowlights that is success and failures. Last
but not least, the presenter will consider lessons which can be learned from the life and
leadership of Moi.

1
2. LIFE STORY OF MOI
Both East and Rodgers say Moi (East & Thomas, 2014) Moi was born on 2nd
September, 1924 in Sacho Location of Baringo County. He was named after his father Kimoi
Arap Chebii a Sote (Asis that is the sun) clan herdsman –though there is a believe that the name
might originated from his mother’s name Kimoi since he was the last born or was raised by the
mother hence called Arap Kimoi which he shortened to be Moi.
In 1934, Moi started school at the African Inland Mission (AIM) School, Kabartonjo
(Kapmission-Kamesion) where he had to walk 28 miles away from home. On October 20th
1936 he was baptised Daniel. In 1938, he was transferred to AIM, Kapsabet and later to
Government African School, Kapsabet where he was a school captain and a captain of the
football team too which indicates his early leadership styles at an early age. The locals attributes
his leadership to him having (big head) macrocephaly. He took menial jobs in and out of school
to meet his basic needs which could have been avoided if the government then had embraced
the role of family by not taxing or having family friendly tax systems (Rutere, 2017). In 1945
he was selected to join Alliance High School but to his disappointment he was not allowed by
the colonial administration a great discrimination indeed! Instead he was sent to a teachers
training college. His character was moulded by Christianity which he had embraced at a tender
age up to when he became the president use to finish all his speeches with, “Mungu awabariki”
and in 1984 when there was drought in Kenya he asked all the citizen to pray to God to bring
rain and surely it rained. Prior to that in 1982 when the air force attempted to overthrow his
government he also requested Christians to pray for him. He demonstrated inexhaustible
patience and tolerance which later helped shape his political career and leadership style. On
completion of his course, he was posted as a Head teacher at Kabarnet (‘Kwa Mzungu Barnet’)
where he studied privately and passed London Matriculation Examinations. He was promoted
in 1949 to the rank of P2 after attending a brief course at Kagumo College and transferred to
Tambach Government African School as a Teacher Trainer.
Moi married Helena (Lena) Bommet of Poror, Eldama Ravine in 1950 and they were
blessed with eight children: Jennifer, Doris, adopted daughter June; Jonathan, Raymond, John
Mark, Philip and Gideon the current Baringo county senator who is also the KANU
Chairperson.
In 1950 Moi attended a course at the Jeans School (Kenya Institute of Administration)
showing he had an interest in leadership and was posted to Government African School,
Kabarnet where he taught Teachers up to 1955 when he joined politics. His entry into politics
followed a meeting with a group of freedom fighters under the command of Brig. Daniel
3
Njuguna who visited him in June 1955. He was sympathetic to their cause and after feeding
and protecting them for two weeks he gave them food and money to further their cause. In
October 1955 the Electoral College selected Moi from a list of eight nominated candidates to
fill a vacancy left by Joseph ole Tameno who resigned from the unofficial benches of the
legislative council. Moi immersed himself in politics with resistance. As he sat as a member of
the Legislative Council with only other four African members on October 18th, 1955 Moi did
not know what was in store for him. He however swiftly adapted to the new challenges and in
the following year he moved a motion in the Legislative Council (Legco) demanding that
African teachers be allowed to form their own association. Thus Kenya National Union of
Teachers was formed and registered in 1957. He was brought up in a strong Kalenjin culture,
which made him a firm believer in justice, honesty and fairness to all as evidenced by the arrest
of those who breach peace. He worked alongside other leaders like Eliud Mathu, Ronald Ngala
and Masinde Muliro in agitating for the release of Jomo Kenyatta and greater African
representation in the Legco.
In 1959, he led a group of leaders to visit Jomo Kenyatta in detention in Lodwar.
Subsequently, Moi was among the Kenyan delegation under the auspices of KADU who went
to the London Constitutional talks of June 1960. Just before independence (1961), Moi was
appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Education and later served in the
ministries of Education and Local Government in the coalition Government. He served as
Minister for Local Government at age 37. As all-conference Chairman of KADU, Moi saw the
intricacy of politics and opted for a united and nationalistic approach leading to the dissolution
of KADU in November, 1964. In January 1967, Jomo Kenyatta appointed Toroitich Arap Moi,
now aged 43, as his Vice-President following the resignation of Mr.Joseph Murumbi. Moi
became President following the death of Mzee Kenyatta on 22nd August 1978. Since
independence in 1963, Moi has won all elections [almost all the times he was going in
unopposed] as a Member of Parliament for Baringo Central and as President in both single-
party and the multi-party era.
He has travelled widely in search for peace in Africa and the world. Many a times he
has been called upon as a president to provide peace keeping forces in troubled parts of the
world like Chad, Uganda, Namibia, Mozambique, Iran/Iraq, Kuwait, Yugoslavia, Liberia,
Morocco, Angola, Serbia/ Croatia, D.R. Congo, Sierra Leone and East Timor. At various fora,
Moi has stressed that unless Africans cement their unity and solidarity, solutions to the many
internal and external hazards afflicting Africa will remain elusive. He has argued that the hard
won independence stands in jeopardy unless Africans embrace cooperation as a means of faster
4
and more diversified economic development. Moi has supported the formation of regional
economic bodies to increase trade and as a means for the developing countries to have a united
voice in the global economy. On 30th December 2002, Moi handed over the reign of power to
Mwai Kibaki (in Kalenjin meaning the remaining oil) in a peaceful transition that followed the
National Rainbow Coalition's (NARC) victory over Kanu in the December 2002 General
Elections.

3. LEADERSHIP JOURNEY OF MOI

When Jomo Kenyatta died on 22nd August 1978, Moi succeeded him. He was popular
initially, with widespread support all over the country, when he was referred to as ‘Nyayo’
since he had promised to follow the footsteps of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. He toured the country
and came into contact with the people everywhere the charismatic style of leadership, which
was in great contrast to Kenyatta's imperial style of governing behind closed doors. However,
political realities dictated that he would continue to be beholden to the Kenyatta system which
he had inherited intact, including the command and control way of leadership vested in the
presidency. When he changed to the latter way of leadership his popularity reduced as
evidenced by the 1st August 1982, lower-level Air Force personnel, led by Senior Private
Grade-I Hezekiah Ochuka and backed by university students, attempted a coup to oust him.
Moi took the opportunity to dismiss political opponents and consolidate his power. He reduced
the influence of Kenyatta's men in the cabinet through a long running judicial enquiry that
resulted in the identification of key Kenyatta men as traitors. Moi pardoned them but not before
establishing their traitor status in the public view.

4. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF MOI

1.1 The opening of the new Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
December 8, 1978 marked one of the early achievements of President Moi. The new 36
billion Kenya shillings, circular complex funded by the World Bank and the government was
going to attract international airlines. It was to cater for more than 30 airlines and more than
344,000 tourists yearly.
1.2 Expansion of health facilities
One of President Moi’s pet projects in the 1980s was the expansion of hospitals, with
the massive construction of Nyayo Wards in most district hospitals. While health financing and
expenditure became one of the challenges, Moi managed to call for harambees to aid in the

5
construction of these facilities to supplement government contribution. This success can be
strengthened further by the help of National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the current
leaders both in Jubilee and in NASA being united in offering free health care to all the Kenyan
citizen because according to the author it is possible especially when all Kenyan citizens and
leaders unite. Possible indeed!
1.3 The Ngoroko saga
Moi had controlled the group but currently they are still carrying out cattle rustling;
which the current government is trying to eliminate.
1.4 International terrorism
The Palestinian question had dominated the I970s with a string of bombings, plane
hijackings and kidnapping. Thus when an Israeli plane was hijacked in 1976 and diverted to
Entebbe Airport, Uganda and Kenya agreed to assist Tel Aviv with landing rights for the rescue
mission. Though it exposed Kenya to international terrorism but working towards protecting
the citizens on international terrorism remains a duty for all governments.
1.5 Transformation of Kanu
Moi transformed KANU into a powerful organ straddling the life of all Kenyans.
1.6 Moi International Airport
The building of Moi International Airport in Eldoret from 1995 to 1997 was a major
milestone in the opening up of the Rift Valley and Western Kenya region.
1.7 Turkwell Gorge, other energy projects
The largest share of Kenya’s electricity supply came from hydroelectric stations at
dams along the upper Tana River, the construction of Turkwell Gorge Dam was a new addition
to the power supply.
1.8 Free school milk programme
This was one of the major educational policies enacted by Moi government in 1979
besides the 8-4-4 system. Kenya was the first African country to launch such a project and
nearly four million pupils in primary schools benefited. Further retrospective needs to be
carried out if it reduced malnutrition and encouraged children to enrol in schooling.

1.9 University education expansion

The expansion of university education has been tremendous since 1970 when Kenyatta
College became a constituent College of the University of Nairobi to become Kenyatta
University College. But it was during the Moi era that the university education sector grew.

6
1.10 Revival of the East African Community
Moi took over power a year after the collapse of the original East African Community.
Tanzania had also closed its border with Kenya, but Moi worked towards the revival of the
EAC.
1.11 Tourism
Moi established the Kenya Tourist Board in 1997 to promote and market Kenya as a
tourist destination locally and internationally.
1.12 Kenya Revenue Authority
He facilitated the formation of the Kenya Revenue Authority in July 1995 marked a
significant development in the collection of taxes and duties in Kenya.
1.13 Moi and global peace
Moi’s Pan African role in peace-keeping started in 1979 when he allowed Kenyan
soldiers to join the Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Zimbabwe.
1.14 Agriculture
State-supported agricultural institutions became a feature of the Kenyan agricultural
scene to support growth and contribution to the economy.
1.15 Building of churches and support of Christian values
He was an active member of the AIC formerly AIM and was shown to be attending
church almost every Sunday. He stopped the local alcohol brew ‘Kilabu’ which saved quite a
number of families from alcoholism.
1.16 Additional information from MBTH and MPCS masters students PAC University and
Dr Rutere
Rutere remembered when Moi use to pass by his school they could be given money
for celebration which does not underscore the generosity which Moi had and he still has since
then hitherto. He did not condone the dictatorship of the donor world hence there was an
economic hardship which lead to the birth of the Jua Kali sector added Samson; which grew
later to be SACCO societies. Member talked of the poor family relationship he had with his
wife the first lady who was supposed to guide and mentor the late Lucy Kibaki and one
member said there is nothing good which can be learned from his leadership but was refuted
by Rutere who said there is always something good –leadership style- which can be learned
from any leader even if they are wicked.

7
5. MAJOR FAILURES OF MOI’S LEADERSHIP
In 1999 the findings of NGOs like Amnesty International and a special investigation
by the United Nations were published which indicated that human rights abuses were prevalent
in Kenya under the Moi regime. Moi was implicated in the 1990s Goldenberg scandal and
subsequent cover-ups, where the Kenyan government subsidised exports of gold far in excess
of the foreign currency earnings of exporters. He used the command and control method in
excess and also exploited the one party system by collecting money forcefully for KANU.

6. LESSONS WE LEARN FROM MOI’S LEADERSHIP

What can be followed and simulated is his philosophy of peace, love and unity which
can be used to bring unity in our churches and the nation. The charisma which he used
initially in his leadership was successful but that does not mean the command and control
which he used is not needed in leadership. The best of all which the author borrows from him
is the fear of God and refusing to be called ‘mtuku’ he told his supporters ‘mtuku’ is to be
referred to God only. The other success in his command and control is when he stooped local
brews which made some families support development. He mentored the current Kenyan
president, which as current leaders, managers, Bishops, pastors, directors, deacons etc. need
to borrow a leaf in bringing up others to take our roles while we mentor them to be even
better than us.

7. CONCLUSION
In this presentation the author discussed the life and story of the second president of the
republic of Kenya Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. The presenter also looked at the leadership skills
and journey in consideration of his highlight and or lowlight that is his successes and failures.
Last but not least, the presenter considers lessons which can be learned from the life and
leadership of Moi

8. REFERENCE
East, R., & Thomas, R. J. (2014). Profiles of People in Power, (September 2014), 2002.
http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/presidents/moi/profile.htm 4/29/2011
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_arap_Moi#Legacy
https://softkenya.com/kenya/history-of-president-daniel-toroitich-arap-moi/