To be the spouse and mother of the children of Kenya’s President must come with immense responsibility, with the public always watching.
Yet, during his tenure as head of state, Kenya’s second President, Daniel Arap Moi, was never seen in public with his estranged wife, Lena Tungoi, raising questions among Kenyans about what might have happened between them.
Apparently, those who lived through the 1960s and 1970s can attest that Lena was very visible when Moi was Vice President. Nevertheless, after he became President, Moi was never seen accompanying her.
It is well documented that shortly after Daniel Moi became President, they finalized their divorce and went their separate ways. Lena chose a quiet life in the village, while Moi made State House his main residence.
Times Digital Kenya walks you through Lena’s humble life in the village despite Moi serving as Kenya’s President at the time.
Divorce
Things were well for a period when Moi was still Vice President, as the couple often appeared together at public events until one incident led to their separation.
In 1974, Moi and Lena went their separate ways after an incident in which Lena reportedly refused to dance with then-President Jomo Kenyatta, causing embarrassment to her husband.
The couple, who married in 1950, finalized their divorce in 1979, a year after Daniel Moi became Kenya’s President.
Lena Moi’s quiet life in the village
Following the divorce, Lena Tungoi, a Christian, relocated to her home village of Kabimoi in Baringo. She led a humble and quiet life despite her former husband being the country’s President.
On the other hand, Moi took their children to Kabarak, but Jonathan Moi , who was 20 at the time, remained close to his mother. It is reported that he even built a house near where she lived and was a frequent visitor. This reportedly caused a feud between Jonathan, his father, and his other siblings.
While in Kabimoi village, Lena saw less of her other children, and Citizen Digital reports that she was treated poorly and was later not even allowed to attend the wedding ceremonies of her own children.
Her life was not that of a First Lady or even an ex-wife of the sitting President, as she lived a rural woman’s life, at times without any means of transport. In fact, Lena often used public matatus for transportation.
That’s not all; at one point, Lena Moi was forced to move her bedroom to the sitting room because the roof was leaking. This situation persisted until her death on 22 July 2004.
