Amidst preparations for the funeral ceremony and eventual internment of former President Daniel Moi, two Kenyans on Friday, February 7 moved to court, to stop the burial of the departed former head of state.
The two also want the public holiday declared and set for Tuesday, February 11 cancelled.
In a video by K24 Digital on Friday, February 7, the two Akorino pastors vowed to make the formal application at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, February 10 after their first attempt failed to get a favourable outcome.
The two, Wilson Maina and Joel Mbugua, indicated that they want the burial stopped, arguing that the former president should be buried in a public place for the sake of historical preservation, instead of his Kabarak farm.
“As a former head of state, he shouldn’t be buried in a private farm but in a public place where anyone can visit the grave anytime.
“Even when our children want to visit the grave in future they will freely do that when the grave is in public land,” remarked Mbugua.
The pastors also stated that if the state moves forward to bury Moi as planned, many generations to come will fail to understand the history of the former president.
“We saw our people being denied the chance of seeing him while he was sick in hospital. The same thing will happen even with the grave in Kabarak,” he noted.
Further, Maina and Mbugua cited the current political differences between politicians over the BBI report as a reason that warrants the postponement of the burial, since their quarrels were against Moi’s stand on peace and unity.
“In line with his philosophy of peace, love and unity, we would like the burial to be halted until the BBI report campaigns are over and the country is once again united.
“We cannot bury former President Moi at a time when different political factions are warring over the highly popularised report,” remarked Maina.
The preachers also stated that the holiday gazetted by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Thursday, February 6, was null and void and should, therefore, be cancelled. They also indicated the need for the government to clarify the former president’s age.
“We also want the government to clarify about Moi’s age for the sake of history. What Lee Njiru is saying seems to bring about more confusion on the age debate,” added Mbugua.
On Thursday, February 6, the organising committee chaired by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua confirmed that the burial would happen on Wednesday, February 12.
Kinyua also stated that there would be a public viewing of Moi’s body at Parliament Buildings from Saturday, February 8, to Monday, February 10.
