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Uhuru drives himself to Nyayo stadium to inspect Moi memorial preparations

President Kenyatta’s motorcade at Nyayo Stadium. He drove himself to inspect preparations for the memorial service of former president Daniel arap Moi set for Tuesday.

NAIROBI, Kenya Feb 9 – PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta drove himself to Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, to inspect preparations for the memorial service of former president Daniel arap Moi that is set for Tuesday.

Journalists and photographers present were restricted from taking pictures of the president as he arrived to inspect ongoing work at the stadium, and those who had taken pictures were forced to delete them.

The car President Uhuru Kenyatta drove to Nyayo Stadium. Journalists were restricted from taking pictures of his arrival.

Head of the Public Service Joseph Kinyua said preparations were progressing well.

“The work that has been done is very commendable and we believe that on Tuesday we will be able to impress not just the Kenyan people or people in Africa but the rest of the world. I am very pleased with what the team has done so far to make sure that everything works well,” he said.

The government declared Tuesday a public holiday to enable many Kenyans attend the memorial service, to be attended by local and international dignitaries.

Government officials inspect Nyayo Stadium where Moi’s memorial service will be held on Tuesday. /CFM.

Officials said at least 10 Heads of State have confirmed attendance to Moi’s burial in Kabarak on Wednesday.

Moi, whose 24-year rule saw Kenya become a one-party state where critical voices were crushed, died on February 4 aged 95.

His body will lie for public viewing in Nairobi for three days, until a memorial service with full civilian and military honours on Tuesday.

The body of the late president who towered over Kenya between 1978 and 2002 was escorted by military guard through the streets of the capital to the parliament building, drawn on a gun carriage and wrapped in the national flag.

Military officers escort the coffin of late former Kenya’s President Daniel Arap Moi, draped in the National Flag, into Parliament Buildings to Lie-in-State for public viewing, in Nairobi, on February 8, 2020.

Foreign dignitaries, soldiers and ordinary citizens paused, bowed and saluted as they passed Moi’s body dressed in dark suit atop a velvet green plinth.

On Saturday, President Kenyatta paid his last respects to former President Moi whose body is lying in state in Parliament.

In his address to the nation from State House Nairobi before he went to Parliament, President Kenyatta said he had lost a mentor.

President Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret views the body of retired president Daniel arap Moi in Parliament on February 8, 2020.

“President Moi was a mentor to many, including myself,” he said in his tribute to the former Head of State who propelled him to national politics at a young age.

Against all odds, Moi surprised the country when he declared President Kenyatta as his preferred successor at the end of his 24 year-rule.

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Uhuru then vied for the presidency on a KANU ticket but lost to Mwai Kibaki who ruled for two terms, before handing over to Kenyatta who won the 2012 presidential election.

“We commence the final journey of a great son of Kenya, a cherished brother, loving father, father of nation, champion of pan africanism and second president of Kenya, he taught for life and was a mentor to many, including myself , his works and legacy will remain immortal,” Kenyatta said, in his first address to the nation, since February 4, when Moi died at the Nairobi Hospital.

Kenyatta celebrated Moi as an icon leader who helped build Kenya out of the shackles of colonial rule and into the freedom and self-determination of a modern independent state.

Kenyans viewing Moi’s body in Parliament where it will lie-in-state for three days from Saturday February 8, 2020.

He described the former president as a balanced leader who during the clamor for multipartyism, listened to both sides and chose well, setting the stage for a national rebirth through the introduction of multipartyism.

“He was a visionary leader. When his party lost in 2002 election, he left office with a gracious last word of advice to those who took the heavy responsibility. The sun has set on a truly extraordinary man, a masterful yet thoughtful leader, a suave yet firm diplomat. One who served the nation with dignity and honor,” President said, before heading to Parliament when he led the public in viewing Moi’s body that lay in state.

Furthermore, the Kenyan President who has been on an official visit in the United States described Moi as a Pan African who believed deeply “that we had answers for the troubled continent.”

“Our nation is not alone in mourning the passing of the former president, the whole of Africa is mourning, we continue to receive messages of sympathy and admiration for the life and service of Moi from around the world,” he said.

After lying-in-state for three days, the gun carriage and State Funeral Procession will make its way from Parliament Buildings to the Nyayo Stadium, the venue of the National Memorial Service.

Deputy President William Ruto views Moi’s body in Parliament.

The government has already declared Tuesday a national holiday to enable more people attend the memorial service ahead of his burial in Sacho, Kabarnet on Wednesday.

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