Kenya’s longest serving president, Arap Moi, dies at 95

Former Kenyan President, Daniel Arap Moi, who ruled the country with an iron fist between 1978 and 2002, has died aged 95,

This was revealed earlier today by President Uhuru Kenyatta the current president of the republic of Kenya

Moi’s 24-year rule saw his country become a one-party state where critical voices were crushed, corruption became endemic and tribal divisions were stoked and turned bloody.

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“It is with profound sadness that I announce the death of a great man of an African state,” Kenyatta said in a statement.

He ordered a period of national mourning until a state funeral is held, on a date not yet announced.

The former president died “in the early morning of February 4 at Nairobi hospital in the presence of his family,” Kenyatta said.

The speaker of Kenya’s national assembly, Justin Muturi said that Moi was an “astute politician”, who “employed pragmatic nationalism to keep the country together for the 24 years that he led our nation.”

“He will be remembered for his great efforts towards consolidating peace and tranquility within the Horn of Africa and largely the East African Region, at a very difficult time for the region and the African continent,” Muturi a gooddded.

His son Gideon Moi, a senator, confirmed Moi died at 5:20 am (02:20 GMT