born 1924, Sacho, Kenya Colony
Five-term president of Kenya (from 1978).
Trained as a teacher, Moi served in the cabinet and as vice president (196778) under Pres. Jomo Kenyatta before succeeding him as president. Head of the dominant Kenyan African National Union (KANU) party, he governed autocratically, finally permitting multiparty elections in 1991, when international pressure forced his hand. His subsequent electoral victories (1992, 1998) led to civil unrest and charges of stealing the elections. During his time in office some sectors of the economy have grown, but critics have attributed this to the strong political patronage system.