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Almost all kenyans are familiar with Presidents Jomo kenyatta, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and currently Uhuru Mwigai Kenyatta in that order.
However, during Moi’s regime, persistent fights against his perceived dictatorial regime saw a Senior Private in the Kenya Air Force assume Presidency, though for only six hours.
The fight against dictatorial regime began moments after independence. Kenyans never imagined they will land from colonialists’ frying pan into dictators’ flickering furnace.
Many, especially key leaders like J.M kariuki and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, embarked on the quest to save Kenya again from the new totalitarians cum wolfy colonialists.
At 3 A.M on 1 August 1982, Hezekiah Rabala Ochuka assumed office as the President of the Republic of Kenya after leading a group of low ranked Air Force servicemen in a coup detat. On that Sunday, Moi and the whole country woke up as usual only to find a new President in Town. While the regime was mesmerized and shaken to the core, the tyrannized were jollyfied.
However, Ochuka’s tenure was short-lived as he ruled for only for 6 hours. President Moi’s regime fought back and overthrew it. He later announced that loyal army and police units had crushed an attempted coup on his civilian government.
Hezekiah Ochuka was later arrested, detained at Kamiti and later hanged on 9 July 1987 regime after being convicted of treason.
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