Today in History: Hezekiah Ochuka Becomes Kenya’s President for 6 Hours

In August 1 1982, Hezekiah Ochuka, a senior private officer Grade I of the Kenya Air Force, and Senior Sergeant Pancras Oteyo Okumu, along with other servicemen, raided the Voice of Kenya (VOK) broadcasting radio office.

They demanded that the radio journalists, particularly Leonard Mambo Mbotela, announce that President Daniel Moi’s government had been overthrown. The journalist complied, broadcasting that Ochuka and his men had taken control of the government.

At the time, Ochuka and Okumu had seized control of Eastleigh Air Base in Nairobi and other strategic locations. Reports indicated that they planned to bomb several key targets, including State House, VOK, , the Army headquarters, and Langata Barracks.

Ochuka Raids VOK Station

While the coup unfolded, military officers loyal to President Moi, including Lieutenant General John Sawe and General Mohammed Mahmoud, organized a counter-operation to restore order in regions experiencing civil unrest due to the coup.

Sawe tasked Mohamed with leading this effort. Mohamed assembled a team of about 30 officers from the First Kenya Rifles Battalion and Kahawa Barracks, with support from Colonel Tom Wanambisi and Major Humphrey Njoroge. They stormed the VOK station, neutralizing the rebels inside. By midday, Mbotela was back on air, announcing that Moi’s government had regained control.

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Ochuka’s coup attempt was thwarted. Although he had initially planned to bomb strategic locations, these attacks did not take place.

Realising that the coup had failed and that most areas had been secured by military forces loyal to President Moi, Ochuka and Okumu decided against fleeing by road for fear of capture. Instead, they rushed to the Air Base hangars, hijacked a Buffalo aircraft, and forced Major Nick Leshan to fly them to Tanzania in search of asylum.

President Moi Confirms that the Military Have Restored Order

In the aftermath of the abortive coup, approximately 385 civilians were arrested, primarily on charges of looting. The coup resulted in the deaths of 129 individuals, including both soldiers and civilians.

Later that evening, President Daniel Arap Moi addressed the nation, emphasising the government’s control and stability. He condemned the coup plotters and reassured Kenyans that the situation was under control.

“Mimi kama amri jeshi ya Kenya nataka niseme kwamba yale yaliyotokea leo asubuhi kwa muda mfupi iliyo waletea wananchi wasiwasi mwingi sasa imeangamizwa na jeshi letu la nchi kavu na polisi na nina washukuru hao sana kwa juhudi zao za kuanngamiza hao maharamia ambao waliweka wananchi katika hali ya wasiwasi,” Moi stated at the time.

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Notable individuals arrested for allegedly plotting the coup included Raila Odinga, former Alego Usonga MP Otieno Mak’Onyango, and university students such as Richard Onyonka, Oginga Ogego, Wachira Waruru, Shem Ochuodho, Oduor Ongwen, and Isaac Ruto.

Ochuka and Okumu were arrested and sent back to Kenya to face trial on November 11, 1983. They were charged with treason, convicted, sentenced to death, and hanged on July 10, 1985.

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