Baringo Senator Gideon Moi holds his father's political baton (Fimbo ya Nyayo) during the funeral of the patriarch in Kabarak after it was handed to him by his elder brother Raymond. [Standard]
The son of the late former President Daniel arap Moi and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has been handed the iconic ‘rungu’ by the family as a symbol of political leadership.
The famous club dubbed ‘fimbo ya nyayo’ was Mzee Moi’s political baton which he would hardly walk around without.
It was presented by Kalenjin elders to Raymond, Moi’s eldest surviving son Raymond who passed it on to Gideon.
“In terms of seniority, I am the leader of this family but politically, I will let Gideon hold that,” said Raymond.
He called Gideon to the podium and handed him the rungu asking him to follow the political footsteps of their father.
“In the manner in which Mzee took care of us and the country, we are also asking him (Gideon) to take do the same,” urged Raymond.
Raymond, however, clarified that the rungu given to him was not the real Mzee Moi’s implying that it was a replica.
“I am giving him this rungu but it is not Mzee’s usual one. And if he loses sight, I will be here,” he said to his brother.
Two Kalenjin elders dressed in regalia stood by to witness the short historical occasion.
Gideon said he had not anticipated being handed the rungu.
“I was not expecting this. Hata kushika hii rungu … anyway nitashika and I will do my best na nitajaribu nikiweka Mwenyezi mungu mbele,” (I will do my best and seek God’s guidance), he said.
Gideon expressed gratitude to his family and the Kalenjin community.
Raymond asked Gideon to revive Kanu and make it more vibrant as it was during the Moi-era saying the party acknowledges the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
“Just like Raila Odinga has said, we are behind you and behind President Uhuru Kenyatta. They are trying to create a better Kenya for all of us,” he said.
