By Anderson Ojwang
In a historic moment, President William Ruto used Moi Day, as it was previously known, to walk back to the political shrine — Kabarak — to appease the spirit of the second president, the late Daniel Toroitich Moi.
Kenya previously celebrated October 10th annually in honor of Moi before it was renamed Utamaduni and later Mazingira Day.
For Ruto, that day was not just like any other day; it was a day to go back to his roots, appease, and honor his mentor after two decades of fallout.
As practiced in African tradition and various religious organizations, purity is considered paramount when one visits a shrine or church for a special function. The white attire symbolized the purity and significance of the occasion.
Indeed, Ruto arrived in Kabarak in a white shirt and black trousers, while the host Gideon Moi, the heir of Moi’s political empire, was also dressed in a white shirt and black coat — symbolic of the event.
After Ruto’s arrival at Kabarak, the most significant event he presided over was the laying of a wreath at Moi’s mausoleum — appeasing the spirit of Moi.
Kabarak, once the country’s seat of power, is one of three political shrines that have controlled the socio-economic and political dispensation of power.
The other shrines are in Ichaweri, Gatundu North — the home of the founding father, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta — and also the home of Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Last year, when Ruto visited the Ichaweri shrine, he pulled a political coup by bringing Uhuru into the broad-based government by appointing his allies into the cabinet.
Similarly, Ruto has also visited the Kango Ka Jaramogi shrine in Bondo, the doyen of opposition politics, and this is where the broad-based government was birthed. The leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga, has hosted Ruto at his father’s mausoleum several times and recently indicated his support for Ruto beyond.
Moi and Ruto fell out after the 2005 constitutional referendum when Ruto was installed as the Kalenjin elder and spokesperson.
Moi told the Kalenjin community to ignore the installation of Ruto and instead listen to former Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey and the late Nicholas Biwott as their leaders.
For Ruto, Kabarak is where he honed and developed his presidential ambition. Moi was everything to him, and that is why, when he went back to Kabarak for a date with his mentor, it was historic.
Ruto and Gideon have remained bitter political rivals, with the latter first declaring interest in contesting for the presidency in 2022 before opting to support Raila.
Ruto had the last laugh over Gideon after he lost the Baringo senatorial seat, and when the incumbent, William Cheptumo, died, Gideon kept everyone guessing before he was formally declared by KANU as the candidate.
But ahead of the presentation of nomination papers, Ruto and Gideon met at Nairobi’s State House, and a new political dispensation was birthed.
“To the family of our father, Daniel Moi, and the people of Baringo, let me thank God for allowing us to gather here at Kabarak, the home of our father, the second president of Kenya.
I am happy. When I spoke with my brother Gideon, we discussed and planned about the old, previous, current, and future issues.
After we had agreed on all the issues, the problem of who and where the message should be delivered came into play.
I told him, Kabarak was the best venue because Kabarak is our home. Nobody welcomes us here at Kabarak; we are at home. I understand Kabarak better. I know all the rooms and everything here at Kabarak.
I walked with Mzee through the entire facility of Kabarak. So, when I am here, I am at home. At the burial of Moi, I said Moi was the father of the Kalenjin community.
I thanked the family for allowing us to share Moi as our father, even though we were not his biological children.
Moi became my father. I was privileged to work with Moi in his final years as president.
If there was a person closer to Moi in his last years as president of Kenya, it was William Ruto.
That is the truth. I know Moi mentored many leaders; I was among the last born of his political mentees.
When Gideon today welcomed us here at Kabarak as the last born of Moi, I too welcome you here as Moi’s political last born. This is our home.
If there is a party that must mind what Kenya becomes, it must be the party of independence — KANU. You must be interested in what happens to Kenya,” he said.
President Ruto said he was the one who approached Gideon and announced that KANU would be joining the broad-based government.
“I told Gideon kindly join me and let us pull the country together. I have had conversations with Raila Odinga. I have sat down with my predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta and explained to him that we need to move this country to the next level.
And I have looked for my brother Gideon. I told him it is time for us to move Kenya to the next level. We must work together, and that is why I looked for Gideon.
I told him, I want you to come and help me pull this country together to elevate it to the next level. If there is a mistake anywhere, blame it on me,” he said.
Gideon, in a statement, wrote, “We’ve elected to pursue the path of unity and shared purpose at this crucial point in our nation. As such, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Baringo for their support and for granting us a chance to move beyond our differences and mold a cohesive and prosperous nation.”
