A middle-aged man was whisked away by security details during the memorial service of the late Retired President Daniel Moi held at Nyayo Stadium following what was reported as ‘he was heckling’.
The incident occurred at a time when the Baringo Senator Gideon Moi was eulogising his father.
Video footage of the incident showed security officers dragging the man from the stand and hurriedly pushed him out of the stadium.
The memorial service was however not interrupted as Senator Moi, who speaking at the time, seemingly couldn’t notice the incident.
Heckler dragged away by security at Nyayo Stadium as Sen. Gideon Moi pays tribute to his late father Moi #TheLastSalute pic.twitter.com/NKyWonLXcb
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 11, 2020
The memorial service went on smoothly as if nothing had happened.
President Uhuru Kenyatta led thousands of mourners who had arrived at Nyayo Stadium and millions of others following the televised State Funeral in bidding farewell to Kenya’s longest-serving president.
Various leaders eulogised the late Moi as a statesman who held the country together and a man who was forgiving in nature.
ODM leader Raila Odinga paid his tribute to the late Moi and admitted that he was a great leader and as a human, he had his weakness which ought not to be overlooked.
“We have come to bid farewell to one of the great leaders of our country… he was one of the freedom fighters of our country… he was human, he made great contributions but like all the human beings he also had his other weaknesses.
“…He (Moi) was forgiving like I’m also forgiving and we made our peace, shook hands and then worked together to bring this country a new constitution. We want to remember him for the good things that he did…” – Raila Odinga #TheLastSalute pic.twitter.com/23FXWY5cMY
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 11, 2020
“He (Moi) was forgiving like I’m also forgiving and we made our peace, shook hands and then worked together to bring this country a new constitution. We want to remember him for the good things that he did…,” said Odinga.
DP William Ruto also shared his message to the public and mourned the Late Moi as his hero and a mentor.
“We are here to mourn a Pan-Africanist, a great statesman, a selfless leader and a father of the nation. We also celebrate the life of our father, our hero and our mentor…
“We are here to mourn a Pan-Africanist, a great statesman, a selfless leader and a father of the nation. We also celebrate the life of our father, our hero and our mentor…” – Deputy President William Ruto #TheLastSalute pic.twitter.com/KiyIJ9Wwc2
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 11, 2020
“President Moi being human was not perfect but as a person who was very close to him in the last three years of his presidency I can say without fear of contradiction that Moi was always genuine, that he always meant the best for Kenya…,” said the DP.
Retired President Mwai Kibaki, who was represented by his nephew Ndiritu Muriithi, also paid his tribute to the Late Moi.
“All his life both in-office and thereafter, as far as his health permitted, Moi remained a servant and a man of the people…,” said Kibaki.
The funeral service comes a day before the lat Moi is interred at his Kabrak home on Wednesday.
His body will spend a night at Lee Funeral Home before being airlifted to Kabarak on Wednesday morning.