Former President Daniel Arap Moi's government was under threat after an attempted coup in 1982.
Douglas Karanja Wachira who was then a 24-year-old army officer has recalled how an arm-axe helped them access Eastleigh Airbase, the epicentre of the 1982 failed coup.
Then based at Third Battalion in Lanet Barracks, Nakuru, Mr Wachira and co were alerted to report to Eastleigh Airbase and on their way, they found robbers where he managed to get the axe, that later played a big role in the lead-up to the coup.
“On our way to the airbase, at Mlango Kubwa, we found shop looters and one of them was armed with a small axe. I managed to disarm him as we stopped the looters from breaking into the shops,” Mr Wachira recalls as quoted by Nation.
Upon reaching the base, they were fired by the officers operating at the gate and the only option was to look for another access and that is when the arm-axe was used to break up the fence that could not be done by bare hands.
"The Ground Air Defence Unit (Gadu) manning the gate at Eastleigh fired towards us. We went back looking for another access. Were it not for the axe, accessing the airbase would have been an uphill mission. Breaking the fence with bare hands could have been impossible,” he says.
They finally entered the base where they successfully arrested the officers supporting Ochuka's mission.
“On entering the airbase, we were joined by officers from the B-Company and we arrested some officers who were supporting Ochuka’s mission," added Wachira.
Hezekiah Ochuka, the man who masterminded the coup was charged, found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hanged in 1987.
Mr Wachira due to his notable role in restoring the Moi's government was promoted to Corporal but later retired, became a pastor and founded the Prophet and Apostles Faith Church in 1992.
The man stills keep the axe in his Tetu home, Nyeri county.