African heads of state, on Sunday, February 9, honoured former president Daniel arap Moi with a special tribute to recognise his contribution towards the unification of the African continent.
During the opening session of the 33rd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a moment of silence was observed to mark the passing of Kenya's former head of state.
A special table was also set up at the summit, where the leaders could share the message of condolences.
Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was one of the leaders captured while signing Moi's condolence book, going on to term Kenya's second president as an icon.
President Moi rallied a number of African countries including Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia among others to examine ways to import and export goods within the region.
Former deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission, Erastus Mwencha, described Moi as a pan-Africanist who believed in the formation of a single and common market in Africa.
He went on to describe Moi's passion for a united Africa as equal to that of the founding fathers of the then Organisation of African Union (OAU, now African Union) such as Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, and Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere.
Moi is believed to have championed for the creation of a common market in order to allow the free movement of goods, capital and labour within the region - a dream that is coming to life in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Moi together with other EAC heads of state from Southern Africa successfully negotiated a treaty for the establishment of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa,” Mwencha disclosed.
Mwencha currently serves as the Chair of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) executive board, a specialised agency of the African Union.
Leaders at the latest summit in Ethiopia took their time to leave a word at Moi's desk, which was decorated with a framed photo of Moi, a bouquet of roses, a miniature Kenyan flag and the special condolence book.
ODM leader Raila Odinga did not accompany President Uhuru Kenyatta when he led Kenyans in viewing the body of former President Daniel Moi’s body at Parliament Buildings on February 8, as he was part of the delegates representing Kenya at the 33rd AU summit.
This years summit is dubbed “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions For Africa’s Development,” is aimed at achieving peace and security in Africa, in accordance with continent’s Agenda 2063.
Here's a video of President Museveni paying his last respect:
Stopped by Mzee Moi tribute desk at the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, to eulogise the true Pan-Africanist.
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) February 9, 2020
My condolences and that of Ugandans to His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, the Moi family, and all Kenyans on the passing of this icon. pic.twitter.com/h60gmBXQM1
