Foiled coup laid ground for democracy we enjoy today, says Ruto

Where were you when the coup happened on August 1, 1982?

I was at the University of Nairobi, Hall Six in room 306. I had earned occupancy of that room by virtue of my position as Sonu’s vice-chairman. The night before, I had left students centre with a group of friends at around 9 pm and we had stayed awake until late in my room talking. At around 3 am on August 1, we began hearing sporadic gunfire. At about 6 am, Titus Adungosi, who was Sonu chairperson, came to my room. I was with Manson Nyamweya (South Mugirango MP). He was concerned about what was happening outside the university and the fact that there were no cooks to provide breakfast to students at the central catering unit (CCU). He wanted us to organise a vehicle to take us to Kabete campus to pick cooks. I rejected the idea.

Nyamweya, other students and I went to CCU, organised and served breakfast. We later learned it was an attempted coup. Three days later, I was arrested along with other student leaders and questioned about the coup attempt. I was later released.

Looking back, how do you think the abortive coup changed the course of Kenya’s history?

It definitely changed the country. The Government became more oppressive and heavy-handed. But then, that repressive period gave fruits to the freedoms we enjoy today.

The events of 1982 helped to clean the political environment and gave birth to the democratic space we enjoy. As a governor, I am committed to fighting for good governance. The impression has always been created that students knew about the impending coup. They did not. Our focus at that time was fighting against loan forms, which the Government had instituted to compel us to repay university loans. We were made to look like we were fighting the Government.

I lost a good friend, Titus Adungosi, who was our student leader. This is a man, who was deeply religious and had a portrait of former President Daniel Moi in his room. He was demonised and he later died in prison.