Row blocks Moi's Kenya peace role

Ex-President Moi has set up a peace foundation since stepping down

Kenya's former President Daniel arap Moi is unhappy with the offer of becoming a regional peace envoy, his spokesman has told the BBC.

Lee Njiru said the former leader was upset that he had been approached by the foreign minister not the president.

"It was lack of social tact on the part of the foreign minister," he said.

Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju had said that Mr Moi had accepted the job of mediating in regional conflicts, such as those in Somalia and Sudan.

"The former president cannot be appointed or be answerable to a minister. Can you imagine the former president in Tuju's waiting room? It is for President Mwai Kibaki to appoint the former president," Mr Njiru said.

However, Mr Moi does approve of the idea in principle, and would "definitely consider it", if asked by President Kibaki, his spokesman said.

Horn peace

On Wednesday, Mr Tuju had said: "We want to change the way we do diplomacy that is why we are reaching out to people like the retired president."

Mr Moi led Kenya for 24 years before standing down after the 2001 elections, in which his Kanu party was defeated.

Since leaving power, he has set up an institute working for peace in Africa.

Mr Moi was criticised for presiding over a government riddled with corruption but during his time, Kenya hosted various peace talks for regional conflicts.

Earlier this year, Kenya was also tasked with mediating the simmering row between Ethiopia and Eritrea.