Lena Moi
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Lena Moi | |
|---|---|
| First Lady of Kenya | |
| In office 22 August 1978 – 30 December 2002 | |
| President | Daniel arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Ngina Kenyatta |
| Succeeded by | Lucy Kibaki |
| Second Lady of Kenya | |
| In office 5 January 1967 – 22 August 1978 | |
| Vice President | Daniel arap Moi |
| Preceded by | Sheila Murumbi |
| Succeeded by | Lucy Kibaki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Helena Tungo Bomett 1926 Kenya Colony |
| Died | 22 July 2004 (aged 77–78) Eldama Ravine, Kenya |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Eight, inc. Gideon Moi |
Lena Tungo Moi (née Bomett; 1926 – 22 July 2004) was a Kenyan teacher, educator, and politician. She is recognized as the second First Lady of Kenya, despite her separation from her husband, Daniel arap Moi.[1][2] Before largely withdrawing from public life, Lena Moi was highly involved in politics during her role as Second Lady in 1960s and early 1970s, especially in her husband's Rift Valley Province, where she supported women's groups and hosted community harambees.[1] She was awarded the Order of the Golden Heart by President Jomo Kenyatta on 1 January 1968 for her service to the community and country.[1]
Moi spent her later years focused on her local community, remaining active in regional women's groups and the Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Ngorobich.[1][3]
Biography
[edit]Lena Moi was born Helena Tungo Bomett. She was the second eldest of her parents' four children.[3] One of her brothers, Harun Bomett, worked as a principal magistrate and served as the former vice chairman of the Kenya Football Federation (KFF), while another brother, Eric Bomett, was an assistant minister.[3]
Before her marriage, Lena Moi worked as a teacher at the Mission Centre in Eldama Ravine.[4]
Bomett married Daniel arap Moi in 1951 in a wedding officiated by the Rev. Erik Barnett at the African Inland Church Mission in Eldama Ravine.[4] Lena Moi was the first woman in the area to wear a white, Western-style wedding gown, rather than traditional local outfit of a white dress and headscarf.[4] Moi's wedding gown was provided by the Rev. Barnett, a missionary with a close friendship with the couple.[4] Lily Settim was one of Moi's bridesmaids.[4] The Mois had eight children during their marriage.[1]
Daniel arap Moi became Vice President in 1967, thrusting Lena Moi into the national spotlight as Second Lady of Kenya.[1] Lena Moi became actively involved in national and local politics, hosting harambees and working with women's groups in Rift Valley Province. In 1968, President Jomo Kenyatta awarded her the Order of the Golden Heart for her service to the community.[1]
In 1969, Daniel arap Moi purchased the 180-acre Kabimoi Farm in the Village of Kabimoi, where he built a home for Lena Moi.[1] She resided at the Moi family farm in Kabimoi for the rest of her life.[1]
Lena Moi and her husband separated in 1974, though the exactly detailed of the cause of their separation remain unclear.[1] Shortrly after their split, Lena Moi left the office vice president's residence in Nairobi and permanently moved back to her home at the Kabimoi Farm in Kabimoi.[1] Her oldest son, Jonathan Torotich, moved to the farm with his mother (and later to a farm a few kilometers away), while her other seven children remained in Nairobi with Daniel arap Moi.[1][3]
Her husband, Daniel arap Moi, became President of Kenya in 1978 following the death of Jomo Kenyatta. Lena Moi is recognized as the second First Lady of Kenya for his 24-year presidency, despite her separation from her husband and absence from public life.[1][2]
Lena Moi spent the rest of her life at the Kabinoi Farm, generally avoiding the media and public attention. She joined local women's groups and remained active with her the Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Ngorobich.[3] Moi declined to attend the weddings of her other children and quietly attended the funeral of her father in 1997.[1]
Lena Moi suffered from high blood pressure and other health conditions during her later years.[3] In 2002, she had been hospitalized in Nairobi, according to neighbors.[3] Due to her failing health, her husband, former President Daniel arap Moi and two of their daughters, Doris and Jennifer, visited and prayed with Lena Moi on Thursday, 22 July 2004.[3] By all accounts, the visitation went well, but Lena Moi's condition rapidly deteriorated once her family had left for the evening. Lena Moi died from hypertension a few hours later on Thursday evening, 22 July 2004, while her driver, Solomon Komen, was transporting her from her home in Kabinoi to Mercy Mission Hospital in nearby Eldama Ravine.[3] She was pronounced dead at Mercy Mission Hospital.[2]
Thousands attended former First Lady Lena Moi's funeral and burial at Daniel arap Moi's other family farm at Kabarak.[2] Dignitaries in attendance at her burial included President Mwai Kibaki, First Lady Lucy Kibaki, and her husband, former President Daniel arap Moi.[2]
Honors
[edit]- Order of the Golden Heart (1 January 1968)[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Macharia, Jackline (2023-06-02). "The Presidents' wives and their behind-the-scenes influence". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
- ^ a b c d e "President Kibaki attends Lena's burial". State House (Kenya). 2004-07-31. Archived from the original on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "She prayed with daughters and husband before her death". Daily Nation. 2004-07-23. Archived from the original on 2024-07-20. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
- ^ a b c d e Chepkwony, Julius (2020-02-09). "Best maid recounts Lena, Moi wedding". The Standard (Kenya). Archived from the original on 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2025-07-16.