Daniel arap Moi served as Vice President of Kenya in 1974, a position he had held since 1967. As Vice President, Moi was constitutionally the successor to the presidency, meaning that upon Kenyatta's death or removal from office, Moi would automatically assume the presidency. However, the Vice Presidency in Kenya was not necessarily a path to real power, and observers in 1974 were uncertain whether Moi would actually exercise significant authority if he became president.
Moi was a Kalenjin politician from the Rift Valley. He had originally been among those political figures co-opted into Kenyatta's government after independence and had remained in government since that time. As Vice President, Moi held a position of formal authority, but his real power and influence were uncertain. He had not been granted a major portfolio in addition to the vice presidency, and he did not control a large patronage network comparable to those of some senior Kikuyu politicians.
The question of whether Kenyatta intended for Moi to be his successor was unresolved in 1974. Kenyatta had not explicitly designated Moi as his political heir, and observers speculated about whether other figures, such as Charles Njonjo or prominent Kikuyu politicians, might be positioned to exercise power in a post-Kenyatta order. Moi's own abilities and his political skills were matters of ongoing discussion and speculation.
The 1974 election was an opportunity for Moi to consolidate his position and to demonstrate political strength. In his capacity as Vice President, Moi could campaign on behalf of KANU and on behalf of candidates he supported. The election could be used to strengthen his relationship with politicians and to build political capital that would be valuable if he became president.
Moi's Kalenjin constituency in the Rift Valley voted in the 1974 election. Kalenjin politicians competed in KANU primaries and sought election to Parliament. The Rift Valley, while important, was not the political center of Kenya in 1974. Kikuyu-dominated Central Province was the political heartland, and Kikuyu politicians controlled a disproportionate share of ministerial positions and national influence.
During the 1974 election campaign, Moi remained in his role as Vice President and did not pose any public challenge to Kenyatta's authority. Moi was careful to maintain his position as loyal subordinate to the aging president. Public displays of ambition or independence from Kenyatta could be politically dangerous, and Moi was circumspect in his political positioning.
The transition of power from Kenyatta to whoever would succeed him was at least four years away from the 1974 election, though no one knew the exact timing. In this context, the 1974 election was a moment when potential successors could build their political positions, but the ultimate succession remained uncertain.
Moi's position as Vice President was a status symbol and a constitutionally significant office, but it did not provide him with control over major government departments or with command of significant state resources. Ministers and other senior officials reported to Kenyatta and were subject to his direction. Moi had less direct authority than major cabinet ministers and had to work within the political space permitted by Kenyatta.
See Also
- Daniel arap Moi
- 1974 Election
- Jomo Kenyatta
- 1978 Succession
- Kalenjin Politics Kenya
- Kenya Political System 1964-1978
Sources
- Widner, Jennifer. The Rise of a Party-State in Kenya: From Harambee to Nyayo. University of California Press, 1992.
- Gertzel, Cherry. "The Politics of Kenya: Toward Authoritarianism." Journal of Eastern African Studies, 1975.
- Hornsby, Charles. Kenya: A History Since Independence. I.B. Tauris, 2012.