"I will die for you Mzee, I am not going anywhere", Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner told President Daniel Moi on the 1st of August 1982 when he was battling a looming coup.
This changed Oyugi's fortunes since then. He earned Moi's trust, he became the president's ear and eye when he survived the coup. In 1986 Hezekiah Oyugi became the Permanent Secretary the Ministry of Internal Security.
PS Oyugi was so powerful that he operated from State House like the President, he gave orders around just like you can fold and unfold your fingers. He was the man very key, instrumental and brain behind the 1988 election rigging. He did everything imaginable and unimaginable to make sure that Moi remained in power.
Oyugi managed to contain most of the Nyanza politicians except Dr. Robert Ouko. Dr. Ouko stood his ground agaist Oyugi's bullying and Moi's regime. On 13th February 1990, Robert Ouko went missing and all eyes were on Hezekiah Oyugi as the principal suspect to the heinous murder.
Many say that while serving as the most powerful Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Oyugi behaved like Deimos, the Greek god of terror. Oyugi together with others like Biwott melted proper terror on critics of Moi's government as much as they had time.
In October 27th 1991 President Moi fired PS Hezekiah Oyugi. He was then detained at the General Service Unit Head quarters for 13 days and released to his family. On his release, he was incoherent and disoriented. Oyugi died 7 months later. His story went under the rubble as Moi continued to rule.
To me, Moi was doing away with the evidence of torture and killings that happened during Oyugi's tenure in the Ministry of Internal Security. The best way was to detain him in a 'safe' place where he wouldn't tell anything he knew to anyone. Made him a zombie and then released him to go and die.
Oyugi's properties that he had ammassed through corrupt dealings and theft disappeared to thin air and his family led a miserable life afterwards. To date, no kin from Oyugi's lineage has ever stood up to any leadership role, they vanished for the sins and evils of their grandfather!
Over to you Raymond Omollo, the Hezekiah Oyugi of William Ruto's government.......