Quotes from leaders that reveal more about Nicholas Biwott

Former Kanu strongman Nicholas Biwott breathed his last on Tuesday morning in Nairobi after a long illness.

As journalists hustled to confirm the passing of Mr Biwott, at first with little success, one thing became clear: the man remains as mysterious in death as he was in life.

The 'Total Man’, as he preferred to call himself, led a life shrouded in secrecy. Indeed, not even his former boss, retired President Daniel arap Moi, knew where he lived.

Below are some exchanges in Parliament and quotes from leaders that reveal what they thought about the 'Bull of Auckland’:

While he owned several homes around the country, few of his closest friends knew where he actually spent the night.

Mr Biwott never hosted political delegations in his home, preferring to hold meetings in public places such as schools or public clubs.

While hosting a Kanu delegation at his Maji Mazuri farm in Uasin Gishu County in 2004, Mr Moi asked on a light note, “Nani hapa anajua kwenye Biwott anaishi? (Who among you knows where Biwott lives)”. 

  • November 15, 1995 during debate on a Motion to amend the Land Act

Mr Orengo: on a point of order Mr Temporary Speaker sir. Is hon (GG) Kariuki in order to speak from the dispatch box? The Speaker made a ruling. There was a time when the “Bull of Auckland” or rather Hon Biwott tried to make a speech from here and he was told to move back the bench. Is he in order to speak from the dispatch box? 

  • Kalonzo Musyoka’s 2016 memoir on the 1995 Commonwealth summit in Auckland

"One day, I was in my hotel room when these senior officials came to see me and I thought they wanted to discuss some official matter about the summit. I was in for a rude shock when they told me their agenda. Apparently, the hotel management had alleged that a senior member of our delegation had sexually harassed a hotel worker.

They wanted us to discuss the matter before I brief Moi. We discussed the effects of the matter on Kenya’s image should it reach the New Zealand police and even more worryingly, the press. Before going to see Moi, I also spoke to the affected member. He told me that he had just left the bathroom and was relaxing on his bed when the woman entered the room without knocking. Upon seeing him in the nude, she screamed and fled.” 

  • Nov 22, 2001 during debate on nominees for the East African Legislative Assembly

Mr Biwott: Mr Deputy Speaker Sir, I have said that each party nominated their respective members, announced them and they are known. I can see right here that hon. Ms (Martha) Karua is pitching to become part of the household (Kanu) and I will say “no!”

(Laughter)

Ms Karua: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker Sir. Is it in order for this short and not so good looking member for Kerio South to suggest that I want to become a member of his already bloated household? Could he declare his interest…

Mr deputy speaker: Order! Order! Hon members! May I advise that hon. Members keep their amorous intentions out of the chamber!

Mr Biwott: Mr deputy speaker sir, I think Hon Biwott looks very handsome and if women have got any problem with that, I think it is only natural that they should be admiring an honourable gentleman called Biwott. 

  • September 30, 1997 during debate on  The Statute Law (Repeals and Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 1997

Raila Odinga (Nasa flag-bearer): I was listening to the Member of Kerio South talk about foreign masters. There is nothing wrong in consulting foreigners. After all, the honourable member consults a foreigner every day because he shares a bedroom with one of those foreigners. There is nothing unusual about consulting foreigners.

Biwott: My wife is Kenyan.

  •  April 16 1993 during debate on president’s speech

James Orengo (Siaya Senator): on a point of order, Mr deputy speaker sir. For the last one and a half hours, I have seen Hon GG Kariuki seated in the Front Bench, but he not consulting anybody there. I am a very worried man because he has been sitting directly in front of Hon Biwott. These two small men gave us a lot of trouble in 1982. Is he in order to continue sitting there?

Mr Kariuki: On a point of order, Mr deputy speaker, sir. Is the Hon Member in order to talk about my height when I am taller than him? 

  • April 28, 1993 during debate on a motion on abolishing detention without trial

Mr Orengo: What I am saying is that the power behind the throne during the reign of Louis the 16th in France was the Queen called Marie Antoinette. Now in Kenya we have people around the throne who are very similar to this lady in France who was called Marie Antoinette. I shall call them the Three Musketeers from the Rift Valley. Hon Prof Saitoti and Hon ole Ntimama and Hon Biwott are the three musketeers from Rift Valley.