Moi regime (1978–2002)

Kenyatta died in 1978 and was succeeded by Daniel Arap Moi who ruled as President 1978–2002. Moi, a member of the Kalenjin ethnic group, quickly consolidated his position and governed in an authoritarian and corrupt manner. By 1986, Moi had concentrated all the power – and most of its attendant economic benefits – into the hands of his Kalenjin tribe and of a handful of allies from minority groups.

On 1 August 1982, lower-level Air Force personnel, led by Senior Private Grade-I Heziakia Ochuka and backed by university students,  attempted a coup de’etat to oust Moi. The putsch was quickly suppressed by forces commanded by Chief of General Staff Mahamoud Mohammed, a veteran Somali military official. In the coup's aftermath, some of Nairobi's poor Kenyans attacked and looted stores owned by Asians. Robert Ouko, the senior Luo in Moi's cabinet, was appointed to expose corruption at high levels, but was murdered a few months later. Moi's closest associate was implicated in Ouko's murder; Moi dismissed him but not before his remaining Luo support had evaporated. Germany recalled its ambassador to protest the "increasing brutality" of the regime, and foreign donors pressed Moi to allow other parties, which was done in December 1991 through a constitutional amendment.

On the heels of the Garissa Massacre of 1980, Kenyan troops committed the Wagalla Massacre in 1984 against thousands of civilians in the  North Eastern Provice. An official probe into the atrocities was later ordered in 2011.

In December 27, 2002 , In an election many thought they would never see, Kenyans headed to the polls Friday on foot, on bicycles and in packed minibuses to determine who will succeed President Daniel arap Moi - the leader of this East African nation for the past 24 years.

With Moi, 78, stepping down as required in the constitution - Kenya's first president to do so - the contest pits the ruling party's Uhuru Kenyatta against Mwai Kibaki, leader of an alliance of opposition parties and the front-runner throughout the campaign. 

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