Moi: I was backing Saitoti presidency bid

Former president Moi has said he was backing the late Internal Security minister George Saitoti's State House bid in the next General Election.

Mr Moi said he had been in contact with the late Prof Saitoti “all the time” over how the former would garner votes in the expansive Rift Valley region.

“I was trying to help him in the Rift Valley to fight for the presidency of Kenya. So, we have been talking together (sic) all the time,” said the former president after visiting with the family of the late minister in Nairobi Wednesday.

Mr Moi, who served as Kenya's president for 24 years (1978-2002), said Prof Saitoti’s death was a “great loss to the country and the family” because he was a leader who tried to unite the country.

“Now that he has passed away, I pray God can give Kenya a good leader who will unite Kenyans and who will work for the good of Kenyans,” he said.

“God knows what is wrong with us and we should make sure that whatever we do, we do it for the good of this nation, to please God.”

Mr Moi said he had known Prof Saitoti for long especially since he had personally selected him to take charge of "some of the important government functions", in an apparent reference to the late minister's position as his vice president.

Prof Saitoti died on Sunday in a helicopter crash alongside his deputy Orwa Ojode, two bodyguards and two pilots in Ngong. The leaders were headed to Ojode's Ndhiwa constituency for a church function.

He was Mr Moi’s longest serving vice-president during the Kanu regime, occupying the position from 1989 to 1997. The late minister also served another stint as Moi's VP between 1999 and 2002.

Prof Saitoti’s loyalty made many to believe he would succeed Moi in 2002. But the two fell out when, as president, Moi announced his preferred successor to be Uhuru Kenyatta.

On Wednesday, the former president said he had been promoting the late minister’s candidature especially in the Rift Valley, which is considered a massive voting bloc.