Daniel Toroitich arap Moi

Daniel Toroitich arap Moi , 1924-, president of Kenya (1978-2002). First named to the legislature in 1955, he opposed Kikuyu and Luo dominance until he joined Kenya's first independent government (1963) and the majority party, the Kenya African National Union (KANU). Moi became vice president in 1967 and he succeeded Jomo Kenyatta as Kenya's and KANU's president in 1978 after Kenyatta's death. He was initially popular, winning over the Kikuyu and freeing political prisoners. He established a one-party state in 1982, but repression and subsequent protests in the late 1980s led the United States to withhold aid. Moi restored a multiparty system in late 1991 and was reelected in 1992 and 1997, but his government continued to be accused of human-rights violations and corruption. After retiring as Kenyan president in 2002 he continued to head KANU until early 2005.

Moi, Daniel Toroitich arap (b. 2 Sept. 1924). President of Kenya 1978–  Born in Kurieng'wo Village, Baringo district, he became a teacher in 1945, but resigned in order to represent his native district in the colony's legislative council from 1957, as one of its first eight African elected members. He became chair of the Kenyan African Democratic Union (KADU) in 1960, and was made Minister for Local Government in the coalition government of 1963. He joined KANU after the dissolution of his party (1964), and became Minister for Home Affairs until 1978. Vice-President from 1967, he succeeded Kenyatta as President on 22 August 1978. He announced a purge of the allegedly corrupt Kenyan bureaucracy and imposed a stern regime. Discontented with the lack of political rights, government corruption, and economic hardship, the country became increasingly restive during the 1980s, erupting into violent ethnic confrontations in 1992. This all but cancelled attempts to introduce greater political freedoms, which were ‘postponed’ throughout the 1990s as popular discontent was aggravated by economic decline.

Moi, Daniel arap (1924– ) Kenyan statesman, President of Kenya (1978– ). Originally a teacher, Moi was a founder of the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU). He oversaw the transition to multiparty politics in Kenya in the early 1990s and has been re-elected twice since then.