When Daniel arap Moi became president of Kenya in 1978, many prominent politicians and academics accused him of corruption, nepotism and embezzlement of public funds.

After the failed coup d'état of 1982, Moi seized the opportunity to make Kenya a de jure one party state.

Its members advocated for the opening up of democratic space in Kenya through public lectures and issuing of leaflets including Mpatanishi and Mzalendo.

In the mid 1970s, underground movements started cropping up with publications, such as Chache Group's Independent Kenya, being their main tool.

Some of the first people to be arrested include Maina wa Kinyatti, Prof. Katama Mkangi, Wanyiri Kihoro and Paddy Onyango.

The main focus was on university lecturers who taught Marxist-Lenninist theories - a subject the government believed was being advocated by Mwakenya's members.

[4] Moi told the public that Mwakenya members were not ordinary Kenyans but rather bearded intellectuals who were keen on serving their foreign masters at the expense of the common citizen.

[6][7] The Kenyan government confirmed that NRM officials allowed Mwakenya fighters to travel freely through Uganda, providing them with passports and other documents.