Why Kenya's Presidents loved Sikhs

The deep respect Kenya's second President Daniel arap Moi had for Kalasinghas

Following in the footsteps of his predecesor President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta (1897-1978), Daniel arap Moi (1924-2020) also kept close to himself Sikhs who were regarded as not only steadfast, honest, hardworking, trusted, loyalists but also as highly skilled professionals of great national asset – serving as policemen, sportsmen, pilots, judges and even architects of several iconic projects.

Kenya's second President, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi – who was publicly sworn in 1978 by High Court Registrar Pritam Singh Brar and Chief Justice James Haywood Wicks.

Pritam Singh Brar, who was officially appointed as Kenya's Chief Magistrate in the High Court in 1977, was among historical stalwarts like Mwai Kibaki and Chief Justice Sir James Wicks in 1978 when Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi was sworn in as the country's second President, following the passing away of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, founding president since independence in 1963.

After the death of Jomo Kenyatta in 1978, Moi was sworn into office as the second President by none other than a Sikh - High Court Registrar Pritam Singh Brar, as depicted in an official postage stamp released in 1988 celebrating ten years of his rise to the highest seat in the land. He remained President of the country for an entire generation when he was succeeded by President Mwai Kibaki (1931-2022) in 2002, having ruled the country for 24 years.

Pritam Singh Brar swearing by his Sikh prayer book as Acting Judge of the Kenya High Court in 1981 in the presence of President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi (1924-2020).

The Sikhs of Kenya have always been unfailingly patriotic and from the moment the first dhows docked at the ancient Kilindini harbour in 1895 when they were brought in by their thousands for help build the historic Uganda Railway (1896-1901) for the British imperialists and colonialists in East Africa.

Kenya’s founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and second President Daniel arap Moi

No matter what the administration - colonial or independent, they never wavered from serving in their best capacities that came naturally to them and rose to some of the highest acclaims in the land that caught the fancy of even Presidents.