Moi gave money and land to build churches across Kenya

For the 24 years he served as the second president of the Republic of Kenya, and even in retirement, former President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi remained a committed Christian.

Clergy told The Standard that the former president valued Christian teachings and never failed to attend Sunday service where he delivered inspirational messages of peace, love and unity.

African Inland Church (AIC) former presiding Bishop Silas Misoi Yego said he received the sad news of Moi's death with profound shock.

Yego said he visited Moi at the Nairobi Hospital on Thursday last week and found him alert. He said the former president asked to accompany him to church - a request the cleric said "could have symbolised his journey to heaven after he served the country and God diligently."

“As an individual and church, we condole with the family and wish them strength,” said Yego.

He described Moi as a dedicated Christian with whom he had worked closely for 34 years.

"I am happy that Moi was baptised in AIC, married in AIC and donated a lot to AIC. Everyone across the country knew he was a member of AIC,” Yego said.

He added: "All the time Moi attended Sunday service, he quoted Galatians 2:20, saying for him to live was because of Christ and that it was by God’s grace."

Remote village

Yego revealed that Moi built many churches; from a remote village in Nyatike in Migori, to Lodwar, Malindi, Mombasa and Kajiado.

He also invested over Sh50 million in AIC Milimani in Nairobi.

Full Gospel Churches of Kenya deputy General Secretary David Macharia said Moi was a staunch believer who respected Christianity and its teachings.

Bishop Macharia said Moi played a huge role in the establishment of churches, starting from the time he was a teacher, a legislative council member, vice president and president.

"Mzee donated land and money to churches in efforts to achieve lasting peace, love and unity," said Macharia.

He added: "The former President created space for evangelism and donated his money to support the expansion of Christianity as one way to unite the nation."

The bishop said the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya were beneficiaries of Moi's generosity after he authorised land commissioners to allocate parcels of land for their construction.

He said some of the buildings built under Moi's hand included the main churches in Langalanga in Nakuru town, Elburgon, Kabarnet, Eldoret, Kericho and Nairobi.

“His message was about selflessness. He supported needy children by paying their school fees. Moi was such a humble person,” said Macharia.

The bishop said Moi donated land for the establishment of Solian Girls Secondary School in Koibatek as well as Solian Full Gospel Churches of Kenya.

"On my behalf and that of our church, Mzee Moi deserves an honourable send-off and people should mourn his demise with adoration. Let us talk about what he did beyond the church and political arena. He helped the country move ahead through the introduction of multi-partyism."

Bishop Abraham Gitu of Apostolic Faith Church described Moi as a religious leader who respected the church and never missed Sunday service. "Our leaders should emulate him,” said Gitu.

Spiritual dedication

In a book titled Moi at 90, Jones Kaleli said he was inspired by Moi’s spiritual dedication in serving the church and God.

The former vice chancellor of Kabarak University narrated how he received an invite to State House in 1985, leaving him worried. He thought he had said something wrong during his sermon at AIC Ziwani, a service Moi had attended.

"After the service, he called me and asked if I could go to State House the following morning at 7.30am," said Prof Kaleli.

Kaleli honoured the invite and to his surprise, the president told him his sermon was powerful. Kaleli said the sermon had taught that children learn of God through their earthly fathers, reminding parents of a responsibility to bring up their children to be productive members of the society. 

Kaleli said Moi thanked him for delivering a powerful message and later gave him Sh10,000. Moi continued to attend Sunday service at Ziwani.

The former VC also got invitations to preach at Moi High School Kabarak, where the then president would invite him for lunch after service.

In 1987, Moi asked Kaleli to join Kabarak on a full-time basis, a request he accepted a year later.

Kaleli said Moi’s Christian faith could be seen in the personal resources he devoted to God. "For example, the Kabarak Community Chapel is designed in a unique manner that summarises the life of Jesus Christ," he said.