Back in 2002, tension within the ruling party Kanu was at an all-time high following the then President Daniel arap Moi's decision to announce a young Uhuru Kenyatta as his apparent heir.
This did not go down well with party stalwarts such as the secretary-general at the time Raila Odinga, whose ingenious plan forced Moi to ditch his convoy and make a long walk across the city while in disguise.
This is detailed in The Flame of Freedom, Raila's autobiography where he narrates his ingenious plan to force Mzee Moi to change his mind regarding the choice of Uhuru as the party flagbearer.
Raila then held a clandestine meeting with other Kanu members to fine-tune their plan to undermine their party leader.
The Kanu sec-gen alliance members included – former Vice-President George Saitoti, Tourism, and Information Minister Kalonzo Musyoka, State Minister William ole Ntimama and Nominated MP Joseph Kamotho, and Ford People chairman and presidential hopeful Simeon Nyachae.
"I told the meeting that our only option was to popularise the Rainbow Alliance with the idea in mind that, when the right moment came, we would split from New Kanu. All we needed was a vehicle,
"I proposed that we launch the 'Rainbow Alliance inside KANU' the next day," the former Prime Minister narrates in his book.
However, Mzee Moi was known for his uncanny ability to learn of plots against him long before they materialised, and he soon started touring the country flaunting Uhuru as the country's saviour.
At the same time, Raila and his 'defectors' were going around the country in a bid to sell their idea of an alliance against Uhuru.
"I saw the need to challenge Moi on his activities. I said that he should desist from acting as if he were Uhuru's campaign manager," reads an excerpt from Raila's book.
This proved to be the final straw and Moi called for an emergency meeting at KICC on September 24, 2002.
"As secretary-general of the party, I went to State House that morning at 6:30 a.m. to ask Moi for the meeting's agenda. He told me it would comprise party unity and preparations for Kasarani 2," Raila narrates in his book.
He then proceeded to his office in KICC, in anticipation of the meeting. However, word of the meeting meant to castigate Raila and his allies went around, leading to the gathering of a mammoth crowd outside the iconic building.
Those who had not joined the alliance were greeted with catcalls and chants of a 'traitor' as they snaked their way to the meeting.
Moi got word of the charged-up crowd and redirected his convoy to his town office along Harambee Avenue.
"News of the hostile atmosphere was obviously conveyed to the presidential motorcade, which went instead to the office of the president. Moi walked to the KANU HQ unseen by the waiting crowds," Raila revealed in his book.
Mzee Moi reportedly disguised himself and made his way along Harambee Avenue and sneaked into the grounds before the fiery crowd knew of his presence.
Mzee Moi then went on to head the meeting in which he declared that the Rainbow Alliance was no longer a part of Kanu, marking the beginning of the end of Raila's stint under Mzee Moi.
Raila's plan eventually worked as his alliance with Mwai Kibaki as the torchbearer trounced the young Uhuru in the 2002 general election, bringing an end to Moi's long grip on power.
