On Aug 2, 1982, the country woke up in confusion as heavy gunfire filled the air.A group of rogue soldiers had seized power at night after storming the National broadcaster V.O.K(now KBC) where they announced that they were now in charge of the country and were being fought by the loyal soldiers.President Daniel Moi later announced that loyal army and police units had crushed an attempted coup on his civilian government.More than 300 airforce personnel were later captured and detained but the colonel who led the coup was still at large. At least, 9 civilians were killed and scores of casualties were reported at the three airforce bases. Hospitals reported that more than 50 people mainly civilians had been treated for gunshot injuries. Moi advised Kenyans to stay at home "until this trouble is over".Sporadic firings were still being heard in downtown Nairobi where army officials said rebel snipers were holed up in on top of high rise buildings.Lieut.Gen Abdul Mohammed who led the loyalist's forces gave the rest of the rebels an ultimatum to surrender their arms by noon but who was the mastermind of the coup? Hezekiah Rabala Ochuka was born in Nyakach, Kisumu District. After attending Naki Kabete Primary School and Mirogi Secondary School, Ochuka was recruited into the Kenya Air Force on September 14, 1976, in Mombasa. He underwent eight weeks of military training at Lanet Army Barracks in Nakuru and was posted to Eastleigh Air Base . Between 1976 and 1978, he underwent basic trade training in electrical devices and instruments and worked in hangars and bays. From October 30, 1978, to January 21, 1980, he attended a course in RAF Cosford, UK, after which he worked as a Senior Private Grade-I, the second lowest rank in Kenya’s military. On August 1, 1982, Ochuka ruled Kenya for a few hours, after he led a group of low ranked Air Force serviceman in a coup d'état attempt . The putsch was quickly suppressed by forces commanded by chief of general staff, Mahamoud Mohamed , a veteran Somali military official. They included the General Service Unit (GSU) — a paramilitary wing of the police — and later the regular police. Ochuka subsequently escaped to Tanzania. He was later extradited to Kenya. He was, along with Pancras Oteyo Okumu, found guilty and hanged in 1987. 

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