The government will spend at least Sh300 million on the funeral of the late former president Daniel Arap Moi, who died at the Nairobi Hospital on February 4th.
Moi, who served as Kenya’s second president for 24 years, will be buried in a State funeral at his Kabarak home on Wednesday. The final send-off will be graced by President Kenyatta, a number of visiting heads of state and several other foreign dignitaries.
Moi’s casket was reportedly imported from South Africa and cost the taxpayer Sh2 million, excluding transport costs, according to a report by The Star. Further, the State will pay Moi’s medical bill at the Nairobi Hospital, which is reported to be on the upwards of Sh100 million. During his four-month stay at Nairobi Hospital, Moi used two presidential rooms, each going for Sh98,000 per day.
The budget will also be used to feed 30,000 mourners at Moi’s burial with sodas, bread, and bottled water. Logistics involving the military, and the National government, including the printing of programs, condolence books, and merchandise will consume the lion’s share of the budget.
The Star said it could not establish how much will be paid to Lee Funeral Home, which has been preparing and storing the remains since February 4th.
The government also spent money upgrading roads leading to Moi’s Sacho home in Kabarak as wells as hiring thousands of chairs and tents to be used during the funeral.
In addition, a chunk will be spent on accommodation and transport for visiting heads of state and hundreds of foreign dignitaries attending the burial.
On Monday, the Interior Ministry announced that at least 10 heads of states were expected to attend Moi’s burial. Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Salva Kiir (South Sudan) and Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia) attended a memorial service on Tuesday.
Other leaders present included Tanzania’s former presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete, Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s President Brahim Ghali.
An unknown amount was also set aside for the refurbishment of Nyayo National Stadium, where a memorial service was held on Tuesday.
I read somewhere that 100…
I read somewhere that 100 bulls will be slaughtered.
2 million coffin?? Chually …
2 million coffin?? Chually (as my Nyeri friend would say
Its ok. A 2m coffin, a huge…
Its ok. A 2m coffin, a huge bill from Lee funeral home, over 300m expenditure, millions of miscellaneous bills, and overheads. No single penny from Moi family. All that loot stashed away in foreign countries zimeenda hivyo tu. How much will be stolen at the end of it all. A better way to steal, kill, maim, extinguish, incarcerate, dislocate, and impoverish the Kenyan human race, unlike Hitler, and be buried like an angel. And as MjuAji, am thinking, well, I wish heaven was like a SuperHeaven Penitentiary where evil men were locked up awaiting God’s wrath. Not like the one at King’ong’o in Nyeri, or Shimo La Tewa, no no no! I meant like the one at Alcatraz, Los Angeles County jail, ADX Florence Facility at Florence Colorado, San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, California, where there is a gas chamber and a super foam bed for lethal injections that opened in 1852 while I was a young man. And again am thinking, super heroes who perished during Moi’s brutal regime like robert Ouko, Mwandawiro Mghangha, Kennneth Matiba, JM Kariuki, Pinto, Tom Mboya, Bishop Muge, Father Kaiser, victims of ethnic clashes of 1982-2007, and others. What do you think would happen if Moi met all these victims at Alcatraz or Attica Correctional Facility in New York? Your guess is as mine. That’s how foolish Kenyans will continue to be fooled by making wrong choices. Listen to them praising Moi since his death, even Mr. BBI Raila yet we know Moi gave him Kisumu Molasses after being made Road Minister. But you know what? Mungu sio athumani. No wonder that’s why Kenyans are currently broke and locusts are on their way to even punish them more.
Oh Lordi! But you are on…
Oh Lordi! But you are on point…many remember yesterday and its pain…
300m-plus in death…. God…
300m-plus in death…. God have mercy on the Kenyan taxpayers….going to bed on an empty stomach while feeding the excesses of the rotten wealthy. Kuna watu na vitu…
I think in Moi’s case it’s…
I think in Moi’s case it’s the rotting wealthy.
This just tells you who…
This just tells you who Uhuru is serving…the dynasties. The Mois, Railas and Kenyattas. On the other hand, Ruto is serving his pocket with the dam money in order to set foot into this coveted Dynasty Club. Meanwhile, common man anapatiwa mkate na soda to witness this travesty.
I can understand the…
I can understand the Government paying for the funeral and associated costs. But why is there a line item for medical fees? Shouldn’t that have already been catered for under the retired-president’s welfare funds? Or even better yet, shouldn’t that be paid for by which ever insurance company was providing medical coverage for Moi and family?
someone is eating somewhere….
@mkenys123, his health…
@mkenys123, his health Insurance paid by taxpayers money should pay his hospital bill.
The late president was a…
The late president was a rich man who can take care of his final affairs comfortably. Why overburden tax payers? As stated by other commentators here, taxpayers who may have gone to bed hungry and also have to wait for long for simple scans that can save lives due to lacking equipment and care. The list is long. The total budget amount is obscene, i dare say. His family should follow the path of a few others/politicians who have chosen less expensive resting ceremonies such as Ms. Wangari Mathai and Matiba. Did I mention that his actions/policy drove some out of Kenya after economic failures and lack and that those were the ones that survived death, Nyayo House and ‘disappearances’.
Meanwhile there is no money…
Meanwhile there is no money to fund kenya Blood Donor Services. 250,000 fools went to his viewing.
The big guys exploit the…
The big guys exploit the country even in their death. I hope I will die a President. When some are held up in hospital because they cannot clear their bills, some get it paid for them even if they have enough money to fund our hospitals for a couple of years. This is a mockery for the poor. All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.
My take, we can keep…
My take, we can keep complaining and do nothing or complain and make a change…until us Kenyans change our mentality , ubaguzi wa ukabila and join together to fight corruption, we will keep reinvesting in the richness of corrupt government…sometimes desperation is bad…..like the people who travelled far to go witness the funeral but have nothing like basic human needs…
Until then R.I.P Moi
kulia lia mtu do? lol
kulia lia mtu do? lol
And you still wondering why…
And you still wondering why Kenya is a third world country? By the way, why do we need to know the coffin is worth Ksh.2M? Irrelevant to me BUT not to Kamau who will find ways to come and steal the damn 2 million coffin! Now that you have dirrhead about how much the coffin cost, make sure you provide 24hr security; otherwise Njeri and her team(Kamau,Kinuthia etc) will come and dig it out?
Meanwhile Kenyan judge…
Meanwhile Kenyan judge orders money awarded to Kenneth Matiba’s family frozen. Kenya yetu.
Am not one to speak ill of…
Am not one to speak ill of the dead may he RIP. With that being said, with the vast wealth the family has accumulated over the years they could not take care of the medical bills? It just pains me to see what ordinary mwanainchi is going through
Am not one to speak ill of…
Am not one to speak ill of the dead may he RIP. With that being said, with the vast wealth the family has accumulated over the years they could not take care of the medical bills? It just pains me to see what ordinary mwanainchi is going through