It is all systems go at Kabarak after the state finalized plans to give retired President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi a send-off befitting his status as the longest serving Head of State in the country.
On Tuesday, there was little activity at the former President’s home which for the past one week has been a beehive of activities as workers prepared for his burial scheduled for Wednesday.
Contractors, painters, and a team from the National Youth Service had completed undertaking different kinds of tasks at the home within Rongai Sub-County in Nakuru.
Members of the public at the nearby Rafiki Trading Center requested that the body be taken to Kabarak University Grounds for them to view it before the burial.
Moi was MP for Baringo North and Baringo Central Constituencies for a cumulative 39 years.
He first joined Parliament in 1963, representing Baringo North, before shifting base to Baringo Central in 1967, where he served until he retired. Prior to that Moi ws a Member of the Legislative Council in the colonial era.
The Nakuru County Government has also announced that it was granting all its employees an off duty on Wednesday to enable them attend Moi’s burial at Kabarak.
Governor Lee Kinyanjui observed that the former president was an integral part of the county both socially, politically and economically.
“Most of Nakuru residents readily identify with Moi as their father figure, neighbour, employer and business associate. I know everyone in Nakuru has this burning desire to be part of proceedings during our retired president’s burial in Nakuru,” said the governor.
He however, said emergency services like health, disaster response teams and emergency response services would remain uninterrupted.
At Afraha stadium in Nakuru, thousands of residents expressed outrage after technicians delayed in mounting giant screens long after the funeral service had kicked off at Nyayo Stadium.
The family and the government agreed to mount giant screens at Afraha Stadium to enable residents follow live proceedings of Moi’s funeral service and burial.
The Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i had also announced that the former President’s constituents in Baringo County would also be provided with the giant screens at Sacho and Kabarnet Trading Centres.
A fourth venue where the screens will be available will be decided by Moi’s family.
However, elaborate sitting arrangements, tents and security were in place at the stadium. In Nakuru, the public will be catching up with unfolding events at Moi’s Kabarak home through the screens on February 12 the proposed burial date.
“This delay must never happen on the burial day. We came here because we could not travel to Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi for the service and we will be here tomorrow because all of us can manage to be part of the Kabarak congregation,” said Mark Onyango a retired teacher.
By Anne Mwale
