By Isaiah Lucheli

Every second day of August, Kimaiyo Koech prepares a lavish feast for his family in Lugari District.

Kimaiyo was among those who were found guilty of mutiny. A court martial handed him a 14-year jail term though his sentence was later reduced to six years after an appeal.

He says the annual celebrations should not be misinterpreted.

Kimaiyo Koech was jailed for six years.

"I survived death by a whisker and that is why I hold a thanksgiving ceremony," he says.

He escaped from a hail of bullets that killed four of his colleagues and two university students.

He also survived after jumping from a two-storey building as he tried to escape torture.

Kimaiyo, who was 25 year old then, says he was among the soldiers who went to pick popular commentator Leonard Mambo Mbotela from his house in Ngara, Nairobi, and took him to the studio.

He recalls that on the night of August 1, 1982, he was fast asleep at the Eastleigh Airbase barracks when he heard gunshots at the armoury.

"I was staying near the armoury and when the gunshots persisted I dashed out and went towards the armoury where I found many soldiers being given guns and ammunition," he says.

The former soldier says without hesitation, he picked a gun, two magazines and extra five packets of ammunition.

"I tried to ask what was going on but a colleague who was giving orders at the armoury instructed some of us to board a lorry and we were taken to VoK," he says.

Kimaiyo and his colleagues were strategically positioned near the VoK gate.

"Shortly, a major general arrived to take our count and instructed us to keep watch," he says.

Moments later, the coup ringleader Hezekiah Ochuka arrived.

"He could not get into the studio because the gate was locked. He ordered Administration Police who were guarding the place to open but they refused," says Kimaiyo.

Ochuka then ordered Kimaiyo to break the padlock but he declined.

"I feared the bullet could bounce back," he says. Ochuka ordered another soldier to break in."

The ringleader and a group of soldiers went to the studio. Kimaiyo remained at the gate but curiosity got the better of him and he followed.

He claims he was not aware of what was going on but was later arrested and taken to Kamiti prison where he was imprisoned for six years.