Many historians agree that the 1982 attempted coup shook the late President Daniel Moi and transformed him into a tyrant.  Faced with the reality that he could actually be removed from power, Moi resorted to strong-arm tactics for self-preservation. The failed coup gave him a much-desired opportunity to silence the opposition using unconstitutional means. In the aftermath of the coup attempt, he morphed into a ruthless dictator, suppressing and jailing opponents, accumulating massive wealth through corruption and engineering the passing of laws that curtailed fair political competition and suppressed the media.

At least 159 people were killed in the subsequent trials. Marxism was banned as a subject of study at the Kenyan universities and radical lecturers were arrested and detained. He declared the country a one-party State, crushing all opposition to his rule.

Draconian media laws were passed and civil servants were forced to join the ruling party.

The Moi regime embarked on a crackdown on civil society, crack secret police units were established, torture chambers were set up in Nyayo House in which many dissidents were jailed, starved, and killed. Those opposed to the Nyayo regime were detained or hounded into exile, while civil society activists were violently persecuted for protesting against human rights abuses and corruption.

Institutions of governance such as Parliament, the Judiciary, and security services became ready lapdogs and rubber-stamps for the Moi Executive.

It took the sacrifice and blood of hundreds of Kenyans to remove the Kanu dictatorship and its vestiges, which was symbolised by the adoption of the 2010 Constitution. It should, therefore, frightening for citizens to see as the return of the habits of the Moi era in the Ruto administration. After the Gen Z protests threatened his grip on power last year, the President seems to have adopted the Moi rulebook.

The Ruto government stands blame for the killings of brave young people demanding good governance, police brutality, endemic corruption, State-orchestrated disappearances, and the sacking of opponents.

Given the sacrifices made, including the blood of Gen Z, Kenyans cannot afford to sit on their arms as President Ruto resorts to Kanu-era dictatorship tactics. They must stand up to defend their Constitution.