In 1982, Kenya's history would change forever. This was after then Kenya Airforce attempted to forcefully take over the country's leadership from the late President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, who had assumed office in 1978 following the demise of the founding President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
According to a documentary dubbed THE GREAT GAME: Inside Kenya's late President Moi's government, attempted coup & gamble, lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, a second liberation activist, described the political antics enforced by Moi against his opposers.
The attempt by the Airforce rebels to seize power and hold the country hostage was the beginning of dictatorial leadership by President Moi, who would rule for another 24 years with an iron fist.
President Moi's change of heart and leadership would see the likes of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya's first Vice President, and the incumbent Siaya Senator, James Orengo, - who were viewed as antagonists to Moi's rule - face his wrath.
"It was a very difficult time if I give my personal experience, I was taken in so many times, I had so many cases, I don't know which part of the country where I had not been taken to court or taken into prison and into a police station. So it was constant," Orengo narrates.
"In my law offices, I would be working and a policeman would be standing at the door, no talking but just watching every movement that I was making."
According to former State House Comptroller, Franklin Bett, Moi felt that the dissent to push him out of government would worsen if he did not re-organise the security system and the Cabinet.
Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader, Musalia Mudavadi, points out that Moi would have a security intelligence briefing from the Special Branch, the modern day National Intelligence Service, every morning at 5am.
This would shape the decisions to be made by Moi during his regime - a style that would see the country turn into what the opposition termed as a 'police state.'
"In the opposition politics, everything happened in Nairobi. But when we were picked by the police, Moi decided that we should be taken to courts and prisons in our areas. And I was taken to Siaya, Jaramogi was taken to his Siaya home. Masinde Muliro was taken to Kitale, Martin Shikuku was taken to Kakamega alongside Shamala, Paul Muite was taken to Kiambu and Imanyara was taken to Meru."
"It was like spreading the movements and wherever everyone was taken, the streets were full and people came out shouting pro-opposition slogans," Orengo narrated.
The current Senior Counsel noted that he was denied bail and taken to Kodiaga Prison where he found other political figures serving their terms over their spirited desire and clamour for change.
Over the years, the select politicians did not bow down to the antics and sought for the country to forge ahead and Moi's regime bundled out.
After a 24-year leadership of President Moi, the opposition would take over in 2002 under the Presidency of Mwai Kibaki, signaling the much anticipated change and mark an end to the regime.
