A few minutes past midday on the Tuesday of August 22, 1978, the national radio, in those days known as the Voice of Kenya (VoK), abruptly interrupted normal programming.
The national anthem was played followed by a terse announcement that said: "It is officially announced from State House, Nairobi that His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mzee Jomo Kenyatta has passed away. All flags are ordered to be at half-mast until further notice."