August 1982: Air force coup attempt occurs and is suppressed. The government arrests suspected conspirators and implements security crackdowns. Charles Njonjo is accused of involvement and begins process of removal from power.
September-October 1982: The government consolidates control following the coup attempt. Political purges continue. Detention of suspected dissidents escalates. The political atmosphere becomes charged with fear and loyalty testing.
1982-1983: The government prepares for snap elections. Parliament is dissolved. Electoral machinery is organized for a snap election.
October 1983: KANU primary elections begin in constituencies. Government explicitly manages primary contests, supporting government-backed candidates and opposing candidates seen as disloyal.
November 1983: General elections are held on November 26. Voting is conducted peacefully, but the electoral atmosphere remains marked by government control and security surveillance. Results reflect government management of outcomes.
December 1983: Parliament is sworn in. The newly elected 1983 parliament is more explicitly aligned with Moi's consolidated authority than its predecessor.
See Also
- 1983 Election
- Daniel arap Moi
- 1982 Coup Attempt Kenya
- KANU Party
- Kenya Political System 1978-1991
- Charles Njonjo
Sources
- Widner, Jennifer. The Rise of a Party-State in Kenya. University of California Press, 1992.
- Hornsby, Charles. Kenya: A History Since Independence. I.B. Tauris, 2012.
- Gitonga, Ezra. "Moi's Kenya: Social Engineering in a Kleptocratic State." In Rogue States and State Sponsors of Terrorism. Edited by Robert Rotberg, 2007.