10 October 2008
Nairobi — Retired president Daniel arap Moi on Friday marked the holiday named after him by urging people to shun leaders who incited one community against the other.
This, he said, was vital to avoid a repeat of the violence that erupted after last December's general elections.
He asked members of the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities in Rift Valley to co-exist. The province is one of the areas hardest hit by the violence.
Mr Moi called for leadership that is development-centred, adding: "Leaders from the grassroots should guide their people in nurturing and maintaining peace.
"The country is more important than each one of us and we should learn to co-exist instead of fighting each other."
Mr Moi maintained that the holiday, which was first marked in 1989, should continue to be observed by Kenyans.
He was speaking at his Kabarak home in Nakuru when he hosted a delegation of councillors from the larger Kericho District who had come to observe Moi Day with him.
Earlier, the former president visited Njoro Special School and donated assorted food
He said the day should continue being dedicated to assisting the less-privileged.
"It should not only be done on this day, but there should be consistency among Kenyans in assisting the poor," he said.
More than 2,000 patients on Friday received free treatment at a medical camp at Matumaini Primary School in Nakuru as part of Moi Day festivities. Most of the beneficiaries were the newly resettled internal refugees.
The organisers said they felt it appropriate to contribute towards the day by reaching out to the underprivileged.
The Kenya Red Cross Society, Nakuru branch, Nakuru College of Health Services and the Ministry of Health sent staff and contributed medicines.
The Kenya Police Training College on Friday donated goods worth Sh30,000 to a children's home in Nyeri North District to celebrate Moi Day.
More than 50 officers spent the day with orphans at the Kids Alive Kenya Karundas Home. The orphans got a rare opportunity to mingle with the law enforcers and also enjoyed music played by the police band.
The officer in charge of police procedures and protocols, Mr Gerald Olouch, said the gesture was in keeping with the day's theme of assisting the less-fortunate.
Reported by Kennedy Masibo, Simon Siele, and John Njagi
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