The question of who would succeed Mzee Kenyatta was always raised in different forums. Some leaders wanted Kenyatta to name his successor, but he resisted all such temptations insisting on following the constitution. Among potential successors were Oginga Odinga, Tom Mboya, Ronald Ngala and Daniel arap Moi. Odinga fell from politics in 1966 when he resigned from KANU to form KPU, Mboya was assassinated on 5 July 1969 and 4 years later, Ronald Ngala former KADU leader died from an accident.
Moi, who had become a VP in 1967, Mbiyu Koinange, Njoroge Mungai and Mwai Kibaki as top contenders of the seat. In 1969, Tom Mboya had confided that Kenyatta preferred Daniel T. arap Moi but he left the struggles within KANU to proceed, Mboya stated.
“I don’t think the President will make any dramatic gestures. He may leave things to continue as they are so that power will slip, quietly into the hands of Moi, who is bound to become acting President should anything happen to the president then… Moi would establish his authority in the party and other contenders would withdraw and give Moi support in the interest of national unity.”
In retrospect, on 22 August, 1978 Moi succeed Kenyatta in accordance with the constitution and he got support from the people of Kenya. Moi had faced considerable opposition from powerful ethnic and political alliances who felt threatened by the idea of having a president who might not protect their ethnic interests.
The opposition to Moi was based on the change the constitution group of 1976, led by Kihika Kimani, Nakuru North MP, Dr. Njoroge Mungai, powerful minister and from leaders of GEMA - Gikuyu, Embu, Meru Association. The fear was caused by poor health of Kenyatta, yet the constitution stated that in case of the president’s death, the VP would act for 90 days followed by national elections. Those opposed to Moi wanted the constitution amended to prevent him becoming president. Similar changes had occurred in 1964 when a new succession formula had been introduced to exclude Odinga from automatic succession and in 1967, changes were brought to prevent Tom Mboya by raising the age of president from 35 to 40 years.
The attempt to prevent Moi faced because President Kenyatta opposed the ethnic pressure which were put on him and parliament to change the constitution. The majority of MPs and Attorney General, Charles Njonjo also opposed the move as unconstitutional.
Another opposition came from KANU ‘A’ which wanted Njoroge Mungai to be the VP of the party as opposed to KANU ‘B’ which favoured Moi. In the 1966 Limuru conference KANU had been used to eliminate Oginga Odinga from VP by creating 8 VPs to replace the national VP of the party.
When it looking obvious that Moi would succeed Kenyatta his enemies became desperate and formed an armed gang of killers - “ngoroko” - based in Nakuru organised to prevent Moi. This team of 250 fighters had been created within the police force by James Mungai, a police boss in the Rift Valley province. It was given sophisticated weapons and vehicles to eliminate Moi, Kibaki and Njonjo. However, things worked well in favour of Moi and on 14th October 1978, Moi, an astute politician was installed as president after getting the support the KANU party and politicians GG Kariuki, Mwai Kibaki, Charles Njonjo, Shariff Nassir etc.
Despite their strong pressure in all important fields, the Kikuyu were fragmented into various camps that were hostile to one another. Despite being referred to as a passing cloud, Moi rules for 24 years.
Moi Policies from 1978
The Luo hoped that Moi would rehabilitate them politically from the political cold of Kenyatta era. The Kikuyu expected him to protect their interests.
The Kenya we want conference held in January 1978 identified “magendo” and corruption as the biggest problem in Kenya.
Moi announced his philosophy of Nyayo - he would follow in Kenyatta’s footsteps, there was no revolution but continuity. Nyayo became the national motto, symbolising continuity, love, peace and unity.
Moi practiced a policy of reconciliation and forgiveness instead of open battles with his opponents. He released all political detainees in his 1st year in office. Among those released were Ngugi wa Thiong’o, George Anyona, J. M. Shikuku, J. M. Seroney, Koigi wa Wamwere and Wasonga Sijeyo - longest serving detainee and former Gem MP detained since 1969.
In 1979 elections, 7 Kenyatta’s ministers and 15 assistant ministers lost their seats. He brought Oginga Odinga back to the government.
In his rule, he opposed foreign ideologies in Kenya and stressed Kenyan nationalism. He supported hard work, community discipline, practical management of problems, harambee spirit. He preferred pragmatism instead of foreign ideologies.
In 1980 national conference, Moi proposed to ban ethnic organizations for the sake of national unity e.g. GEMA, Luo Union (EA), New Akamba Union, Abaluyia Association, Kalenjin Association and Mijikenda Association.
Soon he faced opposition to his government. There was growing number of dissidents mainly intellectuals based in University of Nairobi and political activists Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, George Anyona, Martin Shikuku and Koigi wa Wamwere who formed 1991 pro-democracy group demanding the return to multi-party democracy, contrary to the constitution of Kenya.
In 1970s University of Nairobi wanted to run its affairs independently but it faced government interference. In 1982 soldiers of KAF attempted to remove Moi unsuccessfully, 1975 there were student demonstrations after killing of JM Kariuki, 1969 demonstrations when Oginga Odinga was denied permission to speak to students, 1978 Ngugi wa Thiong’o was arrested and detained for established community based theatre in his Limuru village.
In 1979 students noted, NUSO was banned and 12 lecturers’ passports were seized by the government e.g. Micere Mugo, Ooko Ombaka, Michael Chege, Mukaru Nganga, Okoth Ogendo, Atieno Odhiambo, Peter Anyang Nyongo and Shadrack Gutto - the had introduced Marxist ideas in the university and were hostile to the government. Katama Mkangi, Kamau Kuria, Maina Kinyatti, Willy Mutunga had been detained, also Edward Oyugi and Al-Amin Mazrui detained.
Disappearance of Ouko in 1990
Appointment various commissions on land
In 2002 combined opposition NARC removed KANU from power and a new era under Kibaki began
Mega corruption cases e.g. Goldenberg
Patron - client relationship was strengthened
jerop5614 answered the question on January 2, 2019 at 17:52