Hezekiah Ochuka
Encyclopedia
Hezekiah Rabala Ochuka, (July 23, 1953 – July 9, 1987) was Senior Private
in the Kenya Air Force
, who ruled Kenya
for about six hours after planning and executing a coup against president Daniel arap Moi
on August 1, 1982.
. After attending Naki kabete Primary School and Mirogi Secondary School, Ochuka was recruited into the Kenya Air Force on September 14, 1976. a
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 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.
when he realized that the coup was failing. He was later extradited to Kenya. He was, together with Pancras Oteyo Okumu, found guilty and hanged in 1987. No death sentence has been carried out in Kenya since then, although it has not been formally abolished.
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the Kenya Air Force
Kenya Air Force
The Kenya Air Force is the national Air Force of Kenya.The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the HQ & operations Kenya Air Force. Other bases include FOB Mombasa The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national Air Force of...
, who ruled Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
for about six hours after planning and executing a coup against president Daniel arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
on August 1, 1982.
Early life and career
Ochuka, of the Luo ethnic group, was born in Nyakach, Kisumu DistrictKisumu District
Kisumu District is an administrative district of Nyanza Province in western Kenya. Its headquarters is Kisumu City. It has a population of 504,359 and a land area of 919 km² . The main industries are subsistence agriculture and fishery on Lake Victoria. Kisumu Town is the main commercial...
. After attending Naki kabete Primary School and Mirogi Secondary School, Ochuka was recruited into the Kenya Air Force on September 14, 1976. a
in Mombasa. He underwent eight weeks of military training at Lanet Army Barracks in Nakuru
Nakuru
Nakuru, the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level...
, and was posted to Eastleigh Air Base. Between 1976 and 1978, he underwent basic trade training in electrical and instruments, and worked in hangars and bays. From October 30, 1978 to January 21, 1980, he attended a course in RAF Cosford
RAF Cosford
RAF Cosford is a Royal Air Force station in Cosford, Shropshire, just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton.-History:...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, after which he worked as a Senior Private Grade-I, the second lowest rank in Kenya’s military.
The coup
On August 1, 1982, Ochuka ruled Kenya for a few hours before escaping to TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
when he realized that the coup was failing. He was later extradited to Kenya. He was, together with Pancras Oteyo Okumu, found guilty and hanged in 1987. No death sentence has been carried out in Kenya since then, although it has not been formally abolished.