On Wednesday, Kenya will be commemorating 36 years since the aborted coup that led to President Daniel Moi's change of tactics.
But two military brothers, Lt. Gen Lazarus Sumbeiywo then a Major and his brother, Elijah Sumbeiywo, then Prasidential Escort Commander will be remembered for the critical role they played in securing Moi.
With the President at Kabarak home, Elijah telephoned Lazarus who was in his Nakuru home informing him about the military coup.
At State House Nakuru, Lazurus came into harsh reality that Moi was under siege and developed a quick plan to secure the president who was at Kabarak.
“There was no point in leaving armed troops in State House when the President was in Kabarak," recalled Sumbeiywo who collected five armed military officers and rushed to Kabarak.
At Kabarak, Sumbeiywo caught up with a relaxed Moi who was already aware of the unfolding events.
Having confirmed that Nanyuki Airbase had been compromised, he immediately asked Mzee Moi to vacuate the home even though he had resisted.
“Mzee told me, hii ni nyumba yangu, niende wapi? (This is my house, why should I leave?).” Moi’s attitude was simple, if the Air Force men had an issue, they should go to him. He was not running anywhere.
It took the intervention of former PC Hezekiah Ochuka then Intelligence officer Rift Valley and Elijah to persuade Moi to ran away for safety.
The convoy drove into thickets to Moi's Subukia farm and could make stopovers to contact those in Nairobi to monitor the situation.
At 10am General Mohammoud Mohammed announced that the mutiny had been quashed and Sombeiywo and his team drove from the bushes to Nakuru State House where arrangements were made to drive the Head of State to Nairobi.
On his way to Nairobi, Moi defied KDF men and addressed roadside rallies at Uplands and Dagoretti before speaking to the nation at 6pm.
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