Years to the 2002 election, where President Daniel Moi was to retire, his Vice George Saitoti was already preparing himself, expecting an endorsement from the President.
Actually, so sure was he of the seat that he ignored all the red alerts being thrown at him by Moi, well, before he endorsed President Uhuru Kenyatta, telling Saitoti that "there is a difference between friendship and leadership."
But it emerges that Moi had his own reasons and did not entirely betray his deputy, as former Minister JM Kamotho would later reveal to Nation journalist Kamau Ngotho.
Kamotho revealed that Moi was unhappy with Saitoti's mentality that he would be given everything on a silver platter, and was as well stingy and keeping all his money to himself.
He said that the then head of state told him the details when they were together at his private residence off Ngong Road, where he complained that Saitoti was just sited comfortably.
“This friend of yours Saitoti, is he serious he wants to take over when I retire?” When Kamotho replied in the affirmative, the President said, shaking his head: “But how come he (Saitoti) wants me to do everything for him? He has no friends and doesn’t want to spend his money on anything!” the president reportedly said, shaking his head as quoted by Daily Nation.
After the declaration that friendship was different from leadership, one that was made publicly in the middle of Moi's speech in Transmara, Narok, Saitoti was left defeated.
Unable to hop onto another party to chase his presidential dream, Saitoti sat still awaiting his sack which followed soon after, after which Uhuru proceeded to lose to Mwai Kibaki.