What to expect at Kabarak during Daniel Moi's burial

The country’s attention shifts to Kabarak, the home of former President Daniel Moi, where he will be buried today in a private ceremony.

Kabarak University playground where the funeral service is scheduled to take place, was busy as workers, personnel of event management companies and security officers joined the Kabarak community in making final preparations.

Top security agents led by the Rift Valley Commissioner George Natembeya inspected both funeral service venue and grave site.

Moi will be laid to rest next to his wife Lena, who died in 2004.

Moi's burial ceremony will be conducted according to certain military procedures accorded a former Commander-in-Chief. These will include full military honours complete with a 19-gun salute shortly after Moi's body is lowered into the grave.

According to today's programme, Moi’s body will be flown to Kabarak airstrip in the morning from Nairobi's Lee funeral home.

There will be a funeral procession from the airstrip to the Kabarak University play ground where the funeral service will be held.

Heavy security 

Contingents of regular and Administration Police, the General Service Unit and the Kenya Defence Forces have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Although members of the public have been invited to attend today's function, only vehicles belonging to VIPs will be allowed into the Kabarak University grounds, while others will be directed to other parking spaces.

According to Natembeya, all plans for Moi's final send-off have been finalised and visitors are expected to be seated by 7am.

"Those who will be here early in the morning will be provided with breakfast and later in the day after service there will be lunch. All plans are in place and we have deployed enough security personnel," he said.

Trucks will not be allowed on the Nairobi-Nakuru-Eldoret highway until after 7pm.

Yesterday, Traffic police officers led by the Rift Valley Traffic Enforcement officer Rashid Ali took charge of the highway as well as the Nakuru-Kabarak road, which will remain closed.

“So far, there are no traffic challenges,” said Ali.

The service will be televised on screens at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, Moi’s ancestral home in Sacho and Kabarnet town in Baringo County.