He herded the family livestock just like other boys of his time. Moi's father died when he was only two years old and his upbringing was left to his mother, Kimoi Chebi, and his brother, Tuitoek. It was Tuitoek who took the young Toroitich Moi to school .
He was one of the herds boys from Sacho Location recommended to join the new Africa Inland Mission (AIM) School at Kabartonjo in 1934 before it was shifted to Kapsabet. At that school, Moi was a prefect and football team captain. He took manual jobs in and out of school to meet his basic needs.

He was baptized, Daniel, in 1936. In 1938, he went to another African Inland Mission school at Kapsabet then on to the Government African School still in Kapsabet. At that school, Moi was a prefect and football team captain. He took manual jobs in and out of school to meet his basic needs