{{Short description|9th Vice President of Kenya}} {{Use British English|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Moody Awori | image = Moody Awori.jpg | office = 9th Vice President of Kenya | term_start = 25 September 2003 | term_end = 9 January 2008 | president = Mwai Kibaki | predecessor = Michael Kijana Wamalwa | successor = Kalonzo Musyoka | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1927|12|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Busia, Kenya | alma_mater = Makerere University | children = 5 | spouse = Rose Awori | relatives = W.W.W. Awori (brother)<br>Aggrey Awori (brother)<br>Mary Okelo (sister)<br>Susan Wakhungu-Githuku (niece)<br>Judi Wakhungu (niece) }}
'''Moody Arthur Awori''' (born 5 December 1927)<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ECoREQAAQBAJ&pg=PA32&dq=Arthur+Moody+Awori+5+December+1927&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjrxbSdzMiMAxVdcfEDHQVPMJ4Q6AF6BAgLEAM#v=onepage&q=Arthur%20Moody%20Awori%205%20December%201927&f=false Profile of Moody Arthur Awori]</ref> known as "Uncle Moody", is a former Kenyan politician who served as the ninth Vice President of Kenya from 25 September 2003<ref name=VP>[http://vice-president.go.ke/aw/publish/vp_profile/vp.htm Page on Awori at Vice-President web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225917/http://vice-president.go.ke/aw/publish/vp_profile/vp.htm |date=2007-09-27 }}.</ref> to 9 January 2008.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200801100789.html "Awori Hands Over to Kalonzo"], ''The East African Standard'', 10 January 1998.</ref> He is also the author of ''Riding on a Tiger,'' an autobiography about his life in politics.
==Personal life== Moody Arthur Awori was born in Butere the capital of the former Butere/Mumias District to Canon Jeremiah Awori and Mariamu Awori.<ref name="VP" /><ref name="Bio">[http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/government/cvs/moodyawori.htm Kenya Government Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050728122133/http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/government/cvs/moodyawori.htm |date=2005-07-28 }}.</ref> He was one of their 16 children, a good number of whom went on to hold different senior positions in politics, medicine, and other sectors.<ref>{{Cite web|last=reporter|first=Nairobian|title=The Immortals:Why the Aworis are the Kennedys of Kenya|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/nainotepad/2000162995/the-immortals-why-the-aworis-are-the-kennedys-of-kenya|access-date=2021-05-23|website=Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle|language=en}}</ref>
Awori's eldest brother, Musa, died of a snake bite in infancy. His older brother, W.W.W. Awori, served on the Legislative Council in the 1950s. His younger brother Aggrey Awori is a politician in Uganda who came third in the presidential elections of 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=33359 |title="Kibaki's new cabinet" |accessdate=2006-02-20 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060116022404/http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=33359 |archivedate=16 January 2006 }}, ''The Standard'' (Kenya).</ref> His sister, {{Interlanguage link|Elizabeth Mary Okelo|lt=Mary Okelo|fr|Elizabeth Mary Okelo}}, is a founder and CEO of the Makini Schools.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-07-05 |title=Inside one famous family of scholars and top leaders |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/lifestyle/inside-one-famous-family-of-scholars-and-top-leaders-30020 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-05 |title=Kenya Women Billionaires: The Story of Mary Okello - Kenyans.co.ke |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/69112-kenya-women-billionaires-story-mary-okello |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=www.kenyans.co.ke |language=EN}}</ref>
His brother, Professor Nelson Wanyama Awori, led the team that carried out black Africa's first successful kidney transplant which was performed at Nairobi Hospital in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://surgery.uonbi.ac.ke/node/1170|title=Prof. NO Awori, May 1986 - Nov 1986|publisher=University of Nairobi - Department of Surgery|date=}}</ref> Another brother, Hannington Ochwada Awori, was one of the pioneer civil engineers in Kenya.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amalemba |first=Robert |title=Former VP Awori wins back late kin's 30-acre land from trespasser |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001425534/former-vp-awori-wins-back-late-kins-30-acre-land-from-trespasser |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref>
Moody Awori attended Mang'u High School, and later joined Kakamega School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kakamegahighschool.com/Old%20boys |title=Old boys |publisher=Kakamegahighschool.com |date= |accessdate=2011-08-04|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009115216/http://www.kakamegahighschool.com/Old%20boys|archivedate=2011-10-09}}</ref> Subsequently, he studied at Makerere University in Uganda. He is a devout Roman Catholic.<ref name="VP" />
==Politics== Moody Awori was first elected as a Member of Parliament representing Funyula Constituency in Busia District in Western Province in 1983.<ref name="VP" /><ref name="Profile">[http://www.parliament.go.ke/MPs/members_awori_m.php Kenya Parliament profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060414161302/http://www.parliament.go.ke/MPs/members_awori_m.php |date=2006-04-14 }}.</ref> Under President Daniel arap Moi, he served in several positions as assistant minister.<ref name="VP" /><ref name="Profile" />
Awori broke with the ruling party, KANU, in 2002 and joined the National Rainbow Coalition opposition party, and served as chairman of NARC's top decision making organ.<ref name=VP/> When Moi was succeeded by Mwai Kibaki, Awori was made Minister of Home Affairs in January 2003<ref name=Profile/> and then vice-president (while remaining in charge of Home Affairs) in September 2003, following the death of the previous vice-president, Michael Kijana Wamalwa, in London.<ref name=VP/>
In the December 2007 parliamentary election, he lost his parliamentary seat.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7164728.stm "Reviews under way in Kenya vote"], BBC News, 30 December 2007.</ref><ref name=Kalonzo>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080213023516/http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143980146&cid=4 "Kalonzo VP in Kibaki’s new Cabinet"]}}, ''The Standard'', 9 January 2008.</ref> On 8 January 2008, Kibaki named Kalonzo Musyoka to replace Awori as vice-president and Minister of Home Affairs,<ref name=Kalonzo/> and Awori handed over the office on 9 January. Awori, describing Musyoka as "a friend and political son", said that he believed Musyoka was "equal to the task", while Musyoka said that he had "deep respect" for Awori, who he called "a true gentleman".<ref name=Handover>Mutinda Mwanzia, [http://allafrica.com/stories/200801100789.html "Kenya: Awori Hands Over to Kalonzo"], ''The East African Standard'', 10 January 2008.</ref>
==Anglo Leasing Scandal== Awori was implicated in the Anglo Leasing scandal in a report published on 22 January 2006 by John Githongo. He has insisted upon his innocence and refused to resign, saying he saw no reason to. In February 2006, eighty Members of Parliament demanded his resignation, threatening street protests if their requests were not met.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4711546.stm "Travel ban in Kenya scam inquiry"], BBC News, 14 February 2006.</ref> A few days later protestors on the streets of Nairobi called for his resignation as part of a wider anti-corruption demonstration.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4723480.stm "Kenyans demand more graft scalps"], BBC News, 17 February 2006.</ref> After this was not achieved, the Social Reform Centre said that he was undermining the integrity of his office by refusing to step down and promised to continue protesting.<ref>Nzau Musau, [http://www.timesnews.co.ke/22feb06/nwsstory/news14.html "Groups declare war on Awori"], ''Kenya Times'', 22 February 2006.</ref> In a 22 February interview with the Public Accounts Committee Awori blamed civil servants, claiming to have been misled and that he had had nothing to do with any wrongdoing.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4738772.stm "Kenyan VP passes buck over graft"], BBC News, 22 February 2006.</ref>
==Awards==
Moody Awori was the founder and chairman of the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya, <ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-03 |title=Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya ( Home |url=https://apdk.org/ |access-date=2026-02-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>and a member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.
He holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from the Southern New Hampshire University in the United States of America. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=Moody Awori: Vice President Who Ensured Prisoners Were Treated With Dignity, His Rich Legacy - whownskenya |url=https://whownskenya.com/moody-awori-vice-president-who-ensured-prisoners-were-treated-with-dignity-his-rich-legacy/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>He was awarded the degree in May 2004 in recognition of his many years of dedicated service to the disadvantaged in society, particularly the disabled and the poor. tute of Secretaries.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the nation and the society in general, the Kenyan Government decorated him with two high level State awards – Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) and Elder of the Golden Heart (EGH).
On the eve of his 91st birthday, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him the chair of the Sports Funds Board, saying that young people have for far too long been appointed to those positions but failed to stop theft of public funds, so it was time to try an older Kenyan. The President asked Kenyans who thought Uncle Moody was too old for the task to leave him alone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-06 |title=President Kenyatta defends appointing 91-year-old Moody Awori |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/president-kenyatta-defends-appointing-91-year-old-moody-awori-222188 |access-date=2026-02-21 |website=Citizen Digital |language=en-KE}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
*BBC News: [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4674704.stm Article on Awori's involvement in the scandal] *[http://issuu.com/snhu/docs/undergradcatalog_20122013/search?q=Moody Southern New Hampshire University Catalog 2012-2013]
{{Authority control}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box|title=Vice-President of Kenya|before=Michael Wamalwa Kijana|after=Kalonzo Musyoka|years=2003–2008}} {{s-end}} {{KenyaVPs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Awori, Moody}} Category:1928 births Category:Living people Category:Vice-presidents of Kenya Category:Kenyan Roman Catholics Category:Makerere University alumni Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism from Anglicanism Category:Kenya African National Union politicians Category:National Rainbow Coalition politicians Category:Members of the National Assembly (Kenya) Category:Government ministers of Kenya Category:Alumni of Mang'u High School Category:Alumni of Kakamega School Category:Elders of the Order of the Burning Spear Category:People from Butere