Moi Jeered At
Dec 30, 2002
NAIROBI, Monday - A dejected Daniel arap Moi spent his last moments as Kenyan president under a barrage of abuse from a hostile, jeering crowd impatient to see the end of his 24 years in office.
NAIROBI, Monday - A dejected Daniel arap Moi spent his last moments as Kenyan president under a barrage of abuse from a hostile, jeering crowd impatient to see the end of his 24 years in office. “Everything is possible without Moi!†was the deafening cry as he appeared in a Nairobi park on Monday at the inauguration of his successor Mwai Kibaki, who was elected head of state in elections on Friday.
Moi, who has ruled Kenya largely unchallenged, looked sad and downcast as he read a brief speech, which was punctuated by calls of “Go Away†and “Bye Bye.â€
Some of the crowd, estimated at 200,000 or more, threw lumps of earth in his direction as he walked towards the platform.
Moi later left State House, the seat of power in Kenya, in a helicopter accompanied by his chief-of-staff, John Lokorio, and his spokesman, Lee Njiru. He did not stay for a scheduled lunch with Kibaki.
Presidential aides at State House said Moi was unhappy at the reception he was given at the inauguration. Attempts by other regional leaders attending the ceremony to praise Moi for handing over power peacefully were met with jeers and boos by the crowd.
But Moi drew cheers from the crowd when he praised Kibaki as a man of integrity.
Moi, 78, is widely blamed for ruining Kenya’s once flourishing economy through years of corruption and misrule. He is particularly unpopular in Nairobi, an opposition stronghold.
Kibaki’s National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) delivered a crushing defeat to Moi’s Kenya African National Union (KANU) in presidential and parliamentary elections on Friday. KANU’s candidate was Uhuru Kenyatta.
Moi, who is retiring, was barred by the constitution from contesting the polls.
Senior staff at State House wept as the only boss most have known in more than two decades boarded his helicopter to fly to Kabarak, his rural home in the Rift Valley.
“It’s very difficult,†said one secretary, sobbing quietly. “I have worked for him for more than 10 years and he was often good to his staff.â€
“The mood for many of his staff was like a funeral. Whatever else many Kenyans thought of him, those who served him offered him total loyalty and loved him,†said an official at the presidential press service.
Inside the State House building, jubilant Kibaki aides tucked into a state luncheon and sipped wine in jubilant mood.
“We have waited for this moment for a decade,†gushed a 30-year-old woman who identified herself only as Anne.
“Now, we shall party,†she said.
Ends
Moi, who has ruled Kenya largely unchallenged, looked sad and downcast as he read a brief speech, which was punctuated by calls of “Go Away†and “Bye Bye.â€
Some of the crowd, estimated at 200,000 or more, threw lumps of earth in his direction as he walked towards the platform.
Moi later left State House, the seat of power in Kenya, in a helicopter accompanied by his chief-of-staff, John Lokorio, and his spokesman, Lee Njiru. He did not stay for a scheduled lunch with Kibaki.
Presidential aides at State House said Moi was unhappy at the reception he was given at the inauguration. Attempts by other regional leaders attending the ceremony to praise Moi for handing over power peacefully were met with jeers and boos by the crowd.
But Moi drew cheers from the crowd when he praised Kibaki as a man of integrity.
Moi, 78, is widely blamed for ruining Kenya’s once flourishing economy through years of corruption and misrule. He is particularly unpopular in Nairobi, an opposition stronghold.
Kibaki’s National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) delivered a crushing defeat to Moi’s Kenya African National Union (KANU) in presidential and parliamentary elections on Friday. KANU’s candidate was Uhuru Kenyatta.
Moi, who is retiring, was barred by the constitution from contesting the polls.
Senior staff at State House wept as the only boss most have known in more than two decades boarded his helicopter to fly to Kabarak, his rural home in the Rift Valley.
“It’s very difficult,†said one secretary, sobbing quietly. “I have worked for him for more than 10 years and he was often good to his staff.â€
“The mood for many of his staff was like a funeral. Whatever else many Kenyans thought of him, those who served him offered him total loyalty and loved him,†said an official at the presidential press service.
Inside the State House building, jubilant Kibaki aides tucked into a state luncheon and sipped wine in jubilant mood.
“We have waited for this moment for a decade,†gushed a 30-year-old woman who identified herself only as Anne.
“Now, we shall party,†she said.
Ends