Kenya's former President Moi dies aged 95

Former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, the country’s longest serving leader, has died aged 95.

He was seen by his critics as an authoritarian ruler who held on to power for 24 years, but his allies credited him for maintaining stability in the East African state.

Moi stepped down in 2002 after being constitutionally barred from running for a further term.

He was the country’s second president taking over after the death of Jomo Kenyatta in 1978.

Moi had been in hospital for more than a month.

Divisive figure … This October, 2002, file photo, shows former Kenya’s President Daniel arap Moi. Moi, a former schoolteacher who became Kenya’s longest-serving president and presided over years of repression (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

His death was announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta in a statement carried by the state broadcaster on Tuesday.

“It is with profound sadness and sorrow that I announce the passing of a Great African Statesman, H.E. Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, the Second President of the Republic of Kenya,” the announcement said.

“His Excellency the Former President passed on at the Nairobi Hospital on the early morning of this 4th February, 2020, in the presence of his family,” it said.