Kenya’s Azimio protests: Hundreds storm farm of ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta

The former president of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi, has died aged 95. Moi was Kenya’s longest-serving president, ruling the country for 24 years from 1978, during which time he was accused of corruption, repression and human rights abuses. His death has elicited mixed reactions from various quarters, with some hailing him as a respected elder statesman, while others have described him as a dictator who hounded political opponents and used violence to cling to power.

While Kenya’s current president, Uhuru Kenyatta, declared a period of national mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast, Kenyan opposition lawmakers celebrated Moi’s passing, calling him a “tyrant” and “dictator” who presided over a regime notorious for torture and extrajudicial killings. Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who was detained and imprisoned by Moi’s administration in the 1980s, acknowledged Moi’s contributions to Kenya’s development but also criticised his human rights record.

Moi’s presidency was characterised by a tight grip on power, with the ruling party – Kenya African National Union (KANU) – amending the constitution to effectively make him a de-facto ruler, stifling political dissent and embarking on a massive campaign of land seizures. His regime was also marked by series of high-profile corruption scandals in which millions of dollars were siphoned off from state coffers.

In the wake of his death, there were reports of clashes between supporters and opponents of Moi’s legacy. While some hailed him for his role in modernising Kenya’s economy and investing in infrastructure, others pointed to the abuses committed by his regime, including the murder of protesters during the pro-democracy protests of the 1990s. Reporters investigating Moi’s land ownership were also targeted by a hostile crowd and had their property confiscated, underscoring the hazards faced by journalists in the country.



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