Standard Group mourns Mzee Moi

The Standard Group dedicated this morning to the memory of fallen hero former President Daniel arap Moi.

At the group’s headquarters on Mombasa Road, the company and national flags flew at half-mast flipping to a gentle breeze.

A few metres away from the flag posts stood tens of staff members who had converged to mourn Mzee Daniel Moi.

Mzee had a special connection with the media house and the weight of his demise was clearly etched on the faces of the staff.

The staff calmly sang the National Anthem in unison as the tune boomed from a loudspeaker.

The Group’s Chief Executive Orlando Lyomu eulogised Mzee Moi as “a statesman who did a lot for the country. With this institution [Standard Group], there is a certain connection that is special,” he said.

Mr Lyomu said Mzee Moi was a Pan-Africanist who promoted relations between East African states and led efforts to bring about peace and reconciliation in Africa.

He cited some of Mzee Moi’s key achievements during his 24 years as Kenya’s second president such as the 8-4-4 education system and the free milk program famously known as the Maziwa ya Nyayo.

“The only milk some of us could get was the one in a packet that came in a truck. I remember there were specific days of the week and depending on which school you went to, the milk would be dished out at a particular time,” he said.

Mr Lyomu recalled how they anxiously waited for the milk time.

He recalled cunning boys and girls getting back to the queue and get a second packet. 

The CEO also remembered Mzee Moi for his contribution towards conserving the environment by building gabions to prevent soil erosion.

The staff observed a minute of silence in honour of the departed former President.

Head of strategy Benedict Omollo led the staff through the scripture as he delivered his eulogy.

“I do not know what memories you have of former President Moi but to many of us who lived during his presidency, some memories come to mind,” he said.

Omollo continued: “Each and every one of us has different memories. However, the Bible teaches us moments like these are for the living.”

He quoted Ecclesiastes 7: 2-4 explaining the gravity of such a gathering.

“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart,” he read.

Mr Omollo praised Mzee Moi’s 95 years of life based on the scripture describing his long life as God’s favour since, according to him, most humans live just for 70 years or at most 80.

“Therefore, the former president must have pleased God to live for 95 years,” he said.

He challenged his colleagues to rediscover the purposes of life before their last breath.?