Moi Day in Kenya Date in the current year: October 10, 2024

Daniel arap Moi was born in 1924. Having graduated from Tambach Teachers Training College, he worked as a teacher for nearly a decade before entering politics in 1955. In 1960, Moi founded the Kenyan African Democratic Union. After Kenya gained independence in 1963, he served as Minister for Home Affairs from 1964 to 1978 and as Vice President from 1967 to 1978.

When Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya, died in August 1978, Moi became acting president. 90 days after Kenyatta’s death, he won a special presidential election, being the sole candidate. Moi served as the President of Kenya for 24 years. Although he was initially popular all over the country, his regime is mostly remembered for corruption, repressions, and human rights violations.

Moi Day was one of the most important public holidays in Kenya for two decades between 1989 and 2009. Following the adoption of the new Constitution of Kenya in 2010, it was removed from the list of national holidays. However, in November 2017, the High Court reinstated Moi Day as a public holiday.