Moi's 'comeback' rattles Kenyans
By Josphat Makori
BBC News, Nairobi
Ex-President Moi cannot bear to be silent any longer
When he ruled Kenya for 24 years, Daniel arap Moi came to be referred to as the professor of politics.
But after his retirement in 2002 and the humiliating defeat suffered by his party, Kanu, the former president's critics believed his political death knell had been sounded.
Yet three-and-a-half years later Mr Moi has returned.
It is the news that Kanu, the party he helped found 56 years ago, was on the verge of being assimilated by a loose coalition of opposition political parties known as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that seems to have rattled the former president out of his retirement.
Let him leave politics now to the younger people
Water Minister Mutua Katuku
In an unprecedented fashion since his retirement three years ago, Mr Moi was categorical about his stand on the much touted merger between Kanu with the other ODM parties.
"Kanu is already a national party. It does not need to look for other parties," the former president insisted.
This position has caused sharp divisions within the ODM - now the official opposition party - with party chairman Uhuru Kenyatta supporting the former president and another section, led by the party's secretary general, strongly opposed.
Politicians allied to the ODM are however accusing the former president of trying to scuttle the movement that they believe is poised to win the next general elections.
Enough is enough?
One of the first people to hit back at the former president was Raila Odinga, one of the main movers of ODM, who previously played a key role in engineering Kanu's first ever defeat in the historic 2002 general election.
Kanu leader Uhuru Kenyatta has apologised for his party's wrong doings in power
"There are people who have left the field - let them stay out there and leave others to handle the country's political affairs," Raila Odinga said in a direct challenge to Mr Moi.
"You had 24 years to do what you wanted, what did you do?"
The government, too, is critical.
Last week Mr Moi openly endorsed a number of candidates who are contesting four parliamentary seats that fell vacant after MPs died in a plane crash last month.
This prompted Water Minister Mutua Katuku to declare Mr Moi should rest: "We respect him as our former president but let him leave politics now to the younger people," the minister said.
Influence
But Mr Moi insists he retired only as president and not from politics.
Therefore, he says, he will continue to guide the party that he served as chairman for more than 20 years, and that he will not get into the political altercations with his critics.
"I'm a nationalist and I'll not be pushed into a corner where I hate one group of people or community. Having been president of this country I want to see a united Kenya," he said.
Some political analysts now say that the reactions of many politicians to Mr Moi's apparent return to the political scene is clear evidence that the retired president retains immense political influence in the country.
Opponents fear that come the next general elections, next he may turn the tables on them by making sure that only his preferred candidate wins.
Raila Odinga says, however, he does not fear the former president but has a warning for him: "Moi has a right to enter into the political fray. But then he should know that we shall not treat him with the respect and restraint that we accorded a retired statesman.
"If he joins the field then we'll treat him like any other player," Mr Odinga promised.
That declaration, coupled with the former president's resolve to remain politically active, the stage is set for what may turn out to be a titanic battle akin to the one fought in 2002.
Moi lost that battle - but the question that now lingers is whether the self-styled professor of politics will lose this time around.
"say what u mean, mean what u say, but don't say it mean."