Kiraitu and Moi working together-"Don't go home to herd goats and watch on TV how a government is run”

Kiraitu Murungi Saturday agreed with retired president Daniel Moi's assertion that the presidential system with an executive president was best suited for the country.

Speaking at Nkuene girls secondary school during a fund raising for the construction of the school hall, both leaders said any other system of government may lead the country to anarchy.

Murungi said weakening of the institution of the president was likely to make the country ungovernable adding that "too much democracy as being witnessed now is dangerous".

He said the country needed a president with executive powers with the Prime Minister acting as his assistant.

Murungi urged Moi to continue with his peace initiative campaigns to unite the country and restore trust among the communities living in the Rift Valley.

He said as a result of politics of hatred, many people have lost their lives and property.

"When you were in power, many were opposed you and referred to you as a dictator they have now realized some of the things you upheld were for the good of the country as a whole," Murungi told Moi.

On his part Moi said Kenya risks going the Somalia way should the power of the president be clipped as agitated for by those who favour the parliamentary system.

He said he he would remain in KANU and urged Kenyans to register with the party which he said had the best manifesto guiding elections.

Moi returned to Meru to a tumultuous welcome almost seven years after his preferred successor suffered a huge political defeat in the region in the 2002 presidential elections.

Kiraitu Murungi is the man who had blatantly told the retired president to “go home to herd his goats and watch on TV how a government is run” soon after President Kibaki assumed power in 2003. The former president held a two-and-a-half hour breakfast meeting at Nkuene Girls’ high school with the top officials of the influential Njuri Ncheke council of elders.

At the funds drive in aid of the school which is located near Kiraitu’s home, Moi gave a personal donation of Sh1 million and helped raise Sh3.9 million.

Mr Murungi said the retired president was crucial in restoring peace among communities living in the Rift Valley.

The minister said some people could be wondering why he had invited the retired president to the region, adding that ‘‘there are no permanent enemies in politics’’. “History is history. It’s about things that have passed and there’s nothing we can do about it. We need to forge ahead,” the minister said.

“The line between democracy and anarchy is blurred and if we are not careful, this ‘too much democracy’ is dangerous,” the minister said. He paid tribute to Mr Moi particularly for his peace building efforts in the Rift Valley and urged him to continue the mission.

On his part, Mr Moi said it took time for some developed countries like Britain to become democratic. And for the first time in many years, both Mr Moi and Mr Murungi were on agreement that the country did not need two centres of power under a new constitutional dispensation.

“We must have a strong president who is accountable whatever happens in the running of the government. Having two centres of power will lead to a blame game,” said Mr Moi. He said some people were unhappy with his active participation in politics but he will continue addressing issues that are close to Kenyans.

Mr Moi said his prediction in 1991 that embracing multi-parties would cause tribalism had come to pass. Like a prophet rejected by his people, the then President Daniel arap Moi made a statement that still rings in the ears of many Kenyans.

“Wengine wanasema (There are others who are saying that) Moi must go. Time will come when you will say Moi must come back.” It was in response to the “Moi Must Go!” campaign slogan that pervaded public rallies ahead of the 2002 General Election that swept his party Kanu from power.

But seven years after he relinquished power, and going by what the supposedly retired president has been up to, many are wondering whether the “prophetic” words have indeed not come to fulfilment. Following his humiliating exit from power, Mr Moi led a brief quiet life at his Kabarak home.

However, Mr Moi shot back to the limelight when campaigns for a constitutional referendum started in 2005. And three weeks ago, Mr Moi was unshaken from his political pedestal. During a function that the Keiyo community had organised for him as a gratitude celebration for his 24-year reign, Mr Moi said politics was part of life.