Retired President Moi’s 24-year reign left a legacy that evokes admiration and admonition in almost equal measure, following his rise from a political nonentity to a leader who governed with an iron fist and whose word was never defied.
However, former Kitui County senator, David Musila, in his book - Seasons of Hope, published on the Daily Nation, came clean in a riveting story of how he ended up as the first Provincial Commissioner (PC) to blatantly defy a transfer order by Moi.
“I proceeded to write a letter to President Moi, thanking him for his support in the course of my career, and informed him regrettably that I would be declining my post as PC of North Eastern Province,” stated an excerpt of the book.
It all started during an impromptu visit to Mwingi (Musila’s rural home), during which the former senator had invited president Moi in a bid to have the government take over a hospital that had been abandoned by missionaries.
Mr Musila was at the time one of the most powerful PCs posted in the highly coveted Central Province, making him a member of Moi’s exclusive inner circle.
“Good times were when he would call me just to chat, and inform me that he would drop by my house in Nyeri for tea on his way to Nairobi,” the former PC stated.
Trouble started brewing immediately after their un-announced trip as word of their activities made its way to the self-proclaimed king of the Kamba, Mulu Mutisya.
Mutisya had wiggled his way to the highest office in the land following his close friendship with Jomo Kenyatta, a courtesy he extended to President Moi following Kenyatta's death.
Upon returning to his work duties in Nyeri, he was summoned for a mediation meeting at Attorney General Mathew Guy Muli’s house in Garden Estate along Thika road.
It was during this high tense meeting that lines were drawn, whose ripples were felt long after, with Mulu Mutisya demanding for an apology and Mr Musila refusing to do so before he left.
Mr Mutisya consequently led a delegation of Kamba leaders to State House where they informed Moi that the PC was disrespectful to both Kamba and Central Province leaders and needed replacing.
Mr Musila, on his end, opted to go on a 2-week leave in the middle of all the allegations despite countless requests by close associates to iron out the issues raised first.
This proved to be the final nail on his coffin as on getting back to the office, he was given a rude awakening courtesy of a transfer notice to Garissa which he saw on a local daily.
“I was shocked at the large headline on the front page. It read Reshuffled! My photo was on page three and I knew without a doubt that finally, the end had come,” he revealed.
He then consulted with his father who advised him to turn down the offer citing security concerns, which he did through a letter that he hand-delivered to State House where Moi gave him the cold shoulder and refused to see him.
