Kenyans from all walks of life started streaming into the Nyayo National Stadium as early as 5 am for the requiem service of former president Daniel Toroitich arap Moi.
The former president died at the Nairobi Hospital on Tuesday last week.
School buses that ferried mourners to the venue were parked in various places as people were asked to alight and line up from the access road that branches from Bunyala Road into the stadium.
At round 7.20 am, the military gun carriage arrived at the venue.
Shortly after, some of Moi’s relatives and VIP guests started arriving.
Kenyans had been asked to be seated by 8 am.
GOVERNORS ARRIVE
Governors, including Nairobi’s Mike Sonko and Meru’s Kiraitu Murungi, arrived at the venue at around 8.15 am. They arrived in a bus and were let into the stadium through a VIP entrance.
The service is expected to start at 10 am after the arrival of President Uhuru Kenyatta, State officials and guests.
JOURNEY STARTS
His body left Lee Funeral Home at 8.27 am under heavy military security. The convoy headed to State House thereafter.
The convoy then left State House around 9.20 am for Nyayo Stadium where Kenyans awaited the arrival of the body ahead of the service.
From State House, where President Uhuru Kenyatta received the body, it was then escorted by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to Nyayo stadium.
Once there, pallbearers then carried the casket from the military truck to the dais, where his family was seated nearby.
About 11 Heads of State were expected at the event. Some will attend the requiem mass in Nairobi while others may opt to attend the funeral service at Kabarak tomorrow.
Raymond Moi, the former president’s son, addressed the gathering of Kenyans and dignitaries. He read Moi’s eulogy.
He noted that his father was named Toroitich, which in Tugen means “we welcome home the cattle”. Moi’s father died when he was 4 years old, leaving his elder brother to play the guardian role, he said in the eulogy.
PUBLIC HOILDAY
Last week, the government designated Tuesday a public holiday for the memorial service.
Mzee Moi’s body has been lying in state at Parliament Buildings and a staggering 213,000 people were granted access to view the body, according to police sources.
Moi’s will be the second State funeral with full civilian and military ceremonial honours in events that will largely mirror those of Kenya’s founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
The full military honours include being escorted in a gun carriage, accompanied by military musical honours and a 19 gun-salute.
The difference with his predecessor’s State funeral is that while Mzee Moi will get a 19-gun salute and will not be dressed in military uniform, Mzee Kenyatta, who died while in office in 1978, received a 21-gun salute and was dressed in military regalia.