Bishop Daniel Chemon of Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK), Kabarnet town, has eulogized former President Daniel arap Moi as a devoted Christian who will be remembered forever for contributing immensely towards the spread of the gospel through establishment of several churches especially in Baringo.
The Bishop said the former president was a dedicated Christian who never missed to attend church every Sunday wherever he was despite his busy schedule adding that he used to walk with a Bible and hymn throughout his life.
The cleric said the former president will be remembered by the people of Baringo County for using his personal resources to build several churches in the region citing Africa Inland Church (AIC), Full Gospel and the Catholic as some of the biggest beneficiaries.
“Mzee Moi has been close to churches’ building and development projects. He was a very unique person in character and deed. He was a God fearing man who used his personal resources to advance God’s work. Moi was a generous man who helped people and loved the Lord,” he elaborated.
The bishop who joined other county leaders in mourning the demise of the late Moi said the country has lost a great leader whose deeds impacted greatly on the lives of Kenyans of all walks of life.
“We have lost a pragmatic leader. I remember vividly in the 1980s when he ordered the closure of all bars and funded the construction of modern schools and churches in the country in addition to building of gabions as environmental conservation measure,” he narrated.
The cleric said he was personally one of beneficiaries of the late president magnanimity noting that he was able to tour many countries while accompanying his entourage, a golden opportunity he would not have gotten in his life time.
“I also deputized the late retired president as vice chairman of the board of Kabarnet High School for a record 10 years and during those years I learnt a lot from his leadership style and love for education especially for the less privileged in society,” Chemon recounted.
At the same Baringo Central KANU members led by their chairman Julius Rotich have also joined other Kenyans in eulogizing the late retired president as a patriot who will forever be remembered for preaching peace, love and unity in his 24 years at the helm of the country.
The independence party leaders wished the family and relatives of the late Moi strength and courage to bear the loss of their father during this trying moment of mourning.
Nominated MCA Francis Cheburet in his message of condolence said Baringo County in particular has lost a leader and a father figure to many.
Cheburet said “heroes never die but only sleep,”
The MCA said Moi was inspired to spearhead the construction of multibillion Kirandich Dam which supplies clean water to Kabarnet town and its environs because he was touched by the hardships local women faced when carrying jericans on their backs over long distance.
He enumerated other landmark development projects in the county initiated by the former president to include Moi Teachers Training College, Baringo, Kenya School of Government (KSG), Baringo campus, Kabarnet school for the Deafblind, the only one in the region, and notable learning institutions like Kabarnet boys, Kapropita girls and Sacho owned by his family among others.
Cheburet also praised Moi for paying her school fees and that of her close friends through to Form Four when he met them standing by the roadside after being sent home for tuition fees.
By Joshua Kibet and Cleophas Kibiwot
