Everybody knows that Moi was a terrible leader. We know that he and everyone around him stole like there's no tomorrow. We're just being objective and discussing his other facets. He was brutal to opposition, but who wouldn't be in those days, in Africa?
He, to the surprise of the people around him, repealed Section 2A of the constitution, giving rise to multipartyism. The opposition should blame themselves and not him, for not uniting and unseating him in 1992. He gave them the opportunity to do so.
He didn't hang on to the presidency like neighboring Ssebo and so many others, he exited bila drama in 2002. Kenyans stoned him and he asked for forgiveness. Kenya was still able to hold her own compared to other African countries, even with no natural resources -- no civil strife etc. I think the foresight behind his Peace, Love & Unity philosophy went over our heads though. I mean, it only took just
one 5 year term without him at the helm for us to nearly tear this country down.
We like to imagine how the country would have been had Kibaki taken over in 1978. But there's a good chance that Kibaki and many like him would probably not have been able to navigate the political environment of the 80s, which potentially could have plunged the country into chaos.
To me, Moi is like that terrible father that we hated as children. But you grow up, and consider all the factors that he had to deal with, you don't excuse his badness, but you make an effort to understand it a little better.