Mutula divides opinion with calls to have Moi ‘honoured’
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior has sparked a heated online debate with calls to have retired President Daniel arap Moi honoured for his service to the nation.
The Senator cited former president’s decision to peacefully hand over power after the 2002 elections as one of reasons why Mzee Moi deserves to be honoured.
Former President Moi should be honored for his service to the Nation & his decision to peacefully hand over power after the 2002 elections amid the loud chorus “Yote yawezekana Bila Moi”.
— Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) April 14, 2018
The senator is the son of the late Mutula Kilonzo, who died in 2013, The senior Mutula was a one time Moi’s most trusted lawyer.
During the Kanu era, he represented the retired Head of State in several cases, including election petitions, land transactions and property deals.
On social media the reactions varied with some users supporting Mutula’s calls:
He is forever honoured for his services. Bring the real agenda Mheshimiwa.
— Gakinya peter Chege (@ChegeGakinya) April 14, 2018
I think the msg clearly says, “decision to peacefully….” keyword “peacefully”. Had he not, Kenya would be in a worse place.
— Muthoka J. Kivuva (@jmkivuva) April 14, 2018
Moi deserves respect for leaving power peacefully unlike Mugabe……at least during Moi s time there were minimal corruption cases
— Burning Ooz (@OozBurning) April 14, 2018
But there were others who completely dismissed the suggestion:
Totally agree with you, we should not launder bad leaders just because we were taught to respect our elders(even those who don’t deserve an iota of it). He messed up big time, that’s how he should be remembered
— Gilgamesh (@BWGathecha) April 14, 2018
The power was never his to decide to hand over or not. He was an elected president, not a King . To commend him for not turning into a dictator is to weaken the concept of democracy .
— Omar Bond (@AstronautKE) April 14, 2018
Respectfully let me edit hii takataka you have written
Former President Moi is lucky not to have been questioned on 24 yrs of NOTHING. Anywho, we thank him for his decision to peacefully hand over power after the 2002 elections amid the loud chorus “Yote yawezekana Bila Moi”.— CHRIS MASITTA, HSC (@CCmasitta) April 14, 2018
It wasn’t a favor .Lets stop fantasizing about what an individual was obliged to do by the constitution .Hon Senator,come up with something else
— David Ngure Nganga (@sirngure) April 14, 2018