Today marks exactly 54 years since the day then Minister for Economic Planning and Development Tom Mboya was assassinated.
Mboya, 39, was gunned down on July 5, 1969, at Government Road (now Moi Avenue), just as he left Chaani's Pharmacy.
His killer would later be identified as Nahashon Isaac Njenga, quickly vanished amidst the confusion, leaving Mboya bleeding profusely from his chest.
Prison officials announced in December that year that the convicted assassin was secretly hanged. Officials refused to disclose the date or details of the execution.
Ironically, the slain minister had several years back assisted his killer proceed in military training in Bulgaria as part of the post-independence youth overseas training airlifts.
Back to events following the shooting, the assassin’s bullet had pierced Mboya's chest, soaking his suede jacket with blood.
He lay unconscious as first responders rushed him to Nairobi Hospital in an ambulance in what would be a futile effort to save his life.
Renowned Kenyan photojournalist Mohamed Amin captured the events as they unfolded on video, including frantic efforts by doctors to resuscitate him.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
News of Mboya's assassination spread like wildfire prompting riots in the city as Kenyans flocked to the Nairobi Hospital en masse amid wails and cries.
Baton-wielding police officers had to be called in to control the crowds who as seen in the Amin video were overwhelmed and overpowered.
More drama followed a week later during Mboya's requiem mass at the Holy Family Cathedral on April 12 when angry protestors clashed with the police yet again.
Founding President Jomo Kenyatta's motorcade was blocked from accessing the church compound as mourners used anything they could lay their hands on to pelt his bulletproof Mercedes.
Time magazine captured the moment in detail.
"The police reacted with flailing batons and white-foaming tear-gas grenades. The gas penetrated the cathedral, and its sting set children wailing. Some of the harried congregation used holy water to rinse their eyes, and one retired government official died the next day of the gas’ aftereffects," the paper reported.
Following the chaos, a public viewing of Mboya’s body that had been scheduled for that night was cancelled.
More drama followed the following day as the cortege left Nairobi for burial in Homa Bay.
The car carrying a heavily pregnant Mboya's widow, Pamela, was involved in a three-car collision near Limuru. Five people were injured.
The accident happened when the car carrying Pamela rammed into a police car providing escort services.
Another car in the procession carrying an MP also crashed into the police car before another motorist crashed into the wreck.
Mrs Mboya was momentarily admitted at the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital while the funeral procession made its way to the burial.
X-Rays, however, revealed that she had not suffered any serious injuries although she complained of chest pains. She rejoined the procession.
An estimated 100,000 mourners received the cortege on arrival in Homa Bay amid a fresh episode of the stoning of vehicles perceived to have been carrying government officials, including Mzee Kenyatta.
From Homa Bay, the body was ferried by boat to Rusinga Island where it was interred on April 13, 1969.
A multi-million shilling mausoleum was erected two years later in a lower corner of the compound where Mboya's remains lie to this day.
Many political commentators averred that Mboya's assassination marked the lowest moments of Mzee Kenyatta's reign.