Presidency

Presidential Standard of Daniel Toroitich arap Moi

When Jomo Kenyatta died on 22 August 1978, Moi succeeded him. He was popular, with

widespread support all over the country. He toured the country and came into contact with the

people everywhere, which was in great contrast to Kenyatta's imperial style of governing

behind closed doors. However, political realities dictated that he would continue to be

beholden to the Kenyatta system which he had inherited intact, including the nearly

dictatorial powers vested in the presidency. Despite his popularity, Moi was still too weak to

consolidate his power. From the beginning, anticommunism was an important theme of Moi's

government; speaking on the new President's behalf, Vice-President Mwai Kibaki bluntly

stated, "There is no room for communists in Kenya."[6]

On 1 August 1982, lower-level Air Force personnel, led by Senior Private Grade-I Hezekiah

Ochuka and backed by university students, attempted a coup d'état to oust Moi. The putsch

was quickly suppressed by military and police forces commanded by Chief of General Staff

Mahamoud Mohamed.[7]

To this day it appears that the attempt by two independent groups to

seize power contributed to the failure of both, with one group making its attempt slightly

earlier than the other.

Moi took the opportunity to dismiss political opponents and consolidate his power. He

reduced the influence of Kenyatta's men in the cabinet through a long running judicial

enquiry that resulted in the identification of key Kenyatta men as traitors. Moi pardoned them

but not before establishing their traitor status in the public view. The main conspirators in the

coup, including Ochuka were sentenced to death, marking the last judicial executions in

Kenya. He appointed supporters to key roles and changed the constitution to establish a de

jure single-party state. However, the country had effectively been a one-party state since

1969. The amendments effectively gave Moi complete political control over the country.

Kenya's academics and other intelligentsia did not accept this and the universities and

colleges became the origin of movements that sought to introduce democratic reforms.

However, Kenyan secret police infiltrated these groups and many members moved into exile.

Marxism could no longer be taught at Kenyan universities. Underground movements, e.g.

Mwakenya and Pambana, were born.

Moi's regime now faced the end of the Cold War, and an economy stagnating under rising oil

prices and falling prices for agricultural commodities. At the same time the West no longer

dealt with Kenya as it had in the past, when it was viewed as a strategic regional outpost

against communist influences from Ethiopia and Tanzania. At that time Kenya had received

much foreign aid, and the country was accepted as being well governed with Moi as a

legitimate leader and firmly in charge. The increasing amount of political repression,

including the use of torture, at the infamous Nyayo House torture chambers had been

deliberately overlooked. Some of the evidence of these torture cells were to be later exposed

in 2003 after Mwai Kibaki became President.[8]

However, a new thinking emerged after the end of the Cold War, and as Moi became

increasingly viewed as a despot, foreign aid was withheld pending compliance with economic

and political reforms. One of the key conditions imposed on his regime, especially by the

United States through fiery ambassador Smith Hempstone, was the restoration of a multi-

party system. Moi managed to accomplish this against fierce opposition, single-handedly

convincing the delegates at the KANU conference at Kasarani in December 1991.

Moi won elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by political violence on both sides.

Moi skilfully exploited Kenya's mix of ethnic tensions in these contests, with the ever present

fear of the smaller tribes being dominated by the larger tribes. In the absence of an effective

and organised opposition Moi had no difficulty in winning. Although it is also suspected that

electoral fraud may have occurred, the key to his victory in both elections was a divided

opposition.