Kenyan second president Daniel Moi succeeded the nation's founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta who struggled with angina and dementia before his demise.
However, Moi was not the front-runner as Kenyatta's health deteriorated.
Attorney General Charles Njonjo was the key that opened State House gates for President Moi.
Unfortunately, Britain through Sir Malcolm MacDonald, the Governor of Kenya and the British High Commissioner felt that Njonjo was misleading Kenyatta.
They had preferred candidates.
"The removal of Kenyatta’s control over the Kenya Government poses dangers to the British and the Western positions. There may be a reduction of British influence, the reduction of British expatriates and the growth of communism. It is worth noting that both Odinga and Kaggia are not 100 per cent fit. Odinga suffers from diabetes, Kaggia from ulcers," reads part of a paper titled 'After Kenyatta Who?' quoted by Daily Nation.
According to the paper, political games surrounding Jomo Kenyatta's health, Britain's interests and other contenders are some of the factors that unexpectedly led Moi to State House.
Then Minister for Internal Security and Defence Dr Njoroge Mungai, Tom Mboya, the then Minister for Economic Planning and Development, Ronald Ngala and Finance Minister James Gichuru were the favourites.
However, Njonjo and the advantage granted to Vice Presidents by the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment Bill) of 1964 and Moi's traits especially honesty and loyalty ensured that he was crowned the second President.
Njonjo was very instrumental and he even used to block Tom Mboya's visits to President Jomo Kenyatta.
He was also the brains behind striking a friendship between Retired President Moi and Dr Njoroge Mungai. This allowed Dr Mungai, the only member of the Gatundu group opposed to Moi's takeover, to allow Moi to have a smooth takeover.