• The renowned lawyer revealed that he met the late President Daniel Moi in 1997 after he was invited to head a small technical unit in the State House for Moi's last elections.
• He said it followed an introduction by then NSIS Head, Brigadier Boinett and State House Comptroller Franklin Bett.
Image: DONALD KIPKORIR
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir has said he has never received handouts from politicians despite having brushed shoulders with Kenya's high and mighty in the political arena.
In a statement on his social media handle X Thursday evening, Kipkorir said he managed to be friends with Kenya's four presidents but managed to remain principled by speaking his mind "because I have never belonged to any Political Party".
"I suffer no fool. And I have never taken money from any politician not even President Moi who was generous to everyone," Kipkorir said.
The renowned lawyer revealed that he met the late President Daniel Moi in 1997 after he was invited to head a small technical unit in the State House for Moi's last elections.
He said it followed an introduction by then NSIS Head, Brigadier Boinett and State House Comptroller Franklin Bett.
"It was an exciting moment in my 20’s. But I never got to know President Moi personally," he said.
Kipkorir said he never met the late President Mwai Kibaki and never saw him in real life although he got to know his children after he left office.
The lawyer, however, said he met former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 1999 after former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi chose him to be his lawyer.
"He introduced me to all his friends including Uhuru Kenyatta. Gideon has been my friend since. I got to know President Moi personally when he was leaving State House and I continued visiting him in Kabarak after."
Kipkorir described Uhuru as a "genial man" following interactions with him since December 2013 after he became President.
He said until then, they had never met since Uhuru lost his first presidential bid in 2002.
"In the crowd, he called me by name and asked me to go see him in State House. We rekindled our friendship. I met him multiple times locally and abroad. Uhuru is a genial man."
Kipkorir said he first met President William Ruto in 1992 while he was studying at the Kenya School of Law. He was introduced to him by a relative.
"Ruto and I became BFFs for so long from then through his Deputy Presidency. We used to visit each other.
He said despite their friendship, he supported Azimio leader Raila Odinga during the August 9 polls "without derogation of my friendship with Ruto".
"However and for the record, I didn’t go to Cheptongei to vote in 2022 as I do every General Elections. It was by choice. Ruto is now our President. President for all," Kipkorir said.
Cheptongei is his home village in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
"As I look back on the journey of my life, I am grateful that my legs that were once barefoot until I was 13, were able to walk in the manicured lawns of State House."