Kabarak family mourns caring, generous and visionary leader

The former President Moi was a visionary leader. Kabarak University Vice Chancellor Henry Kiplagat said before embarking on any project, especially related to education and health, Moi had elaborate plans spanning decades.

“He was a man who lived according to a Chinese saying that if you are planning for a year you plant rice, for a decade you plant trees and for a lifetime you invest in education,” he added.

The Vice Chancellor is full of gratitude to Moi for giving him a chance to serve in the institution that has an enviable reputation.

Affordable rates

“I joined Kabarak as a high school teacher. For the over thirty years I have worked here everything has been falling in place as per his plans which many would see as over ambitious. His dream was big and we are still implementing it,” said Kiplagat.

The VC noted that Moi had a plan to have an institution that would offer training in all vital disciplines with emphasis on morals and character from a biblical perspective.

“The disciplines he had focus on include business, education, law, pharmacy, health sciences and music. He believed that professionalism comes from character and morals instilled during training,” he said.

In his last years, Kiplagat said, Moi wanted to see the institution expand to have a teaching and referral hospital that would make the health sciences department offer necessary training in the diverse fields.

“We are working hard to ensure this dream becomes a reality. A perimeter wall around the project area is in progress. The hospital will be associated with 23 other mission hospitals he helped set up,” he said.

The VC further disclosed that Moi intended to have the facility offer subsidised services equipped with cutting edge medical equipment.

“His plan was assisting the poor access health services with ease. There is a Memorandum of Understanding with the mission hospitals to ensure Kabarak Teaching and Referral Hospital will offer world class services at affordable rates,” he said.

Gave hope

He described Moi as an education enthusiast who gave hope to thousands of people who would have otherwise missed an opportunity to set foot in class.

“Today, we have lecturers across various universities who wore their first shoes and set foot in class courtesy of Moi. Apart from the schools he built across the country, many are currently enjoying his scholarship programme,” said Kiplagat.

Moi High School Kabarak Principal Elisheba Cheruiyot said they will greatly miss the former president’s wise counsel in running the institution adding that he supported children across the country.

“This is a man we shall dearly miss. He has impacted so much on lives. We mourn his death in great pain. We however celebrate all the lives he touched since 1979 when the school was founded. Today, he pays fees for ten students from humble backgrounds,” she said.

The university Chaplain Paul Ombati who has served for 12 years said Moi’s death is a great loss to the AIC Church.

“In all those years he was always in church early despite his age. He never left behind his bible and golden bells hymn book. He loved God with all his heart. We need to accept and advance the good work he was doing in serving Kenyans,” said Dr Ombati. The school headboy Elvis Simiyu described the former president as a great role model to the students whom they are committed to honour by maintaining high academic performance.

The school headgirl Melanie Waithaka described Moi as a great father to the Kabarak fraternity who always extended a helping hand to all.

Joyline Chepkonga, the school deputy headgirl who is a beneficiary of the former president’s scholarship, said were it not for him she would not have joined high school. The students signed the condolence book.