The struggle between socialism and capitalism in Kenya has been long,
bitter and violent. Capitalism won with the active support of USA and UK
governments at the time of independence in 1963. Yet the original
(1960) Kenya African National Union (KANU) Party was in favour of
socialism. It was Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi who used
violence to suppress those advocating socialism. They used their power
to massacre, assassinate, exile, imprison and disappear people and
created a state of terror to silence their opponents. Capitalism
became the unstated state policy. Thus, imperialism won and the aims of
Mau Mau were brutally suppressed. However, the desire for socialism
never died. Resistance movements and opposition parties made socialism
their aim, reflecting people’s desire for justice, equality and
empowerment. Many studies on Kenya focus on personalities or
‘tribes’ or race as driver of events, ignoring the all-important class
and ideological positions of leaders and their Parties. Two Paths Ahead
reproduces and comments on the documents from the opposing sides in the
battles between capitalism and socialism — the original Kenya African
National Union (KANU), its successor, KANU-B, and the Kenya People’s
Union (KPU) on economy, land, labour, and social policy. It also touches
upon the demands of the organisers of the 1982 Coup and traces the
political stand of key leaders as proponents of capitalism or socialism.
The final section reproduces some of the documents on this ideological
struggle. The book exposes the hidden hand of imperialism in the
country’s rush to capitalism. It fills a gap in understanding the real
contradictions that divide Kenya to this day.
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Two Paths Ahead
The Ideological Struggle between Capitalism and Socialism in Kenya, 1960-1970
Shiraz Durrani
Shiraz Durrani
Two Paths Ahead The Ideological Struggle between Capitalism and Socialism in Kenya, 1960-1970
Shiraz Durrani
Published in 2023 Vita Books P.O. Box 62501-00200 Nairobi. Kenya http://vitabooks.co.ke info.vitabkske@gmail.com
Paper - 978-9966-133-12-0 Ebook - 978-9914-9875-9-1
Design and layout by Brian RowaCell: +254723 893 350brianrowa@gmail.com
Two Paths Ahead
Don Barnett (1972) Introduction to he Hardcore: he Story of Karigo Mucai (1973) LSM. he document, he Struggle for Kenya’s Future: Two Pats Aead, is reproduced in te Docu-mentation section of tis book.
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Contents
Dedication Acknowledgments Abbreviations Glossary Preface: Two Paths for Kenya by Dr. Njoki Wamai
vii viii ix x xii
I. Introduction:How did Kenya become free...without people getting free? 1
II. Kenya African National Union (KANU) Land Stolen TwiceAfrican Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya (1965)
III. Land Policies, KADU and the Birth of KANU-B KADU -- The same Ideological Disposition as KANU-B The KANU Limuru Conference (1966) marks a turning point
IV. Kenya People’s Union (KPU): Uhuru na Ujamaa KPU Manifesto (1966) KPU’s Wananchi Declaration (1969)
V. Clash of Ideologies at the Lumumba Institute (1964-65) The Political Signiîcance of KPU
11 20 28
47 63 74
77 81 86
97 104
VI. Ideology in Action 107 The Voice of the Coup (1982) 108 Bildad Kaggia (1921-2005): Socialism answers African problems 112 Oginga Odinga (1911-1994): Opposed capitalist orientation 117 Pio Gama Pinto (1927-1965): Socialism Meant Its True Application 118 Makhan Singh (1913-1976): He Lived Socialism 121 Jomo Kenyatta (1997-1978): ‘Mau Mau was a disease’ 122 Tom Mboya (1930-1969): Plan for Capitalist Development 130 Other Victims of Kenyatta and KANU-B’s reign of terror 134
VII. Conclusion: The Ideological Struggle Continues
i
v
137
References and Bibliography
DOCUMENTATION
DOCUMENT 1: KANU Manifesto, 1960 DOCUMENT 2: The Struggle for Kenya’s Future, (1961) Two Paths Ahead (1961) DOCUMENT 3: Bildad Kaggia Speech on African Socialiam, 1965 DOCUMENT 4: Kenya, Rep. African Socialism and its Application to Kenya (1965) Selection DOCUMENT 5: KPU Manifesto for 1966 By-Elections DOCUMENT 6: Wananchi Declaration (1969) DOCUMENT 7: Coup D’état Aug 1, 1982 Broadcast DOCUMENT 8: KPU Politicians DOCUMENT 9: Who owns the land? (Wikileaks, 2008) DOCUMENT 10: Land and Conict (2013) TJRC Selection DOCUMENT 11: Dudula, Sol: African Socialism (1965) DOCUMENT 12: Is ‘imperialism’ (just) history? MML (2021) DOCUMENT 13: A Note on Tom Mboya by Terence Africanus
INDEX
v
142
149
149
174 181
185 194 208 246
248 249 259 272 289 294
307
Although political independence is a noble achievement in the struggle against colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism, its eectiveness is superîcial unless economic and cultural independence is also achieved. The road to the attainment of economic and cultural independence is beset with neo-colonialism which is becoming even more menacing to newly independent states than orthodox colonialism — Kwame Nkrumah. Conakry 14 June 1966 — Foreword to Odinga (1967) Not Yet Uhuru: The Autobiography of Oginga Odinga. 196, xv.
In Africa two opposite trends of social development are at work — one towards socialism and the other towards capitalism ... On the one hand there is a revolutionary upsurge and on the other hand imperialism is desperately using all the means at its disposal to halt the revolutionary advance in our continent — A Communist Call to Africa (1977? 13, 26).
The peoples of the less industrialised areas of the world are in a good strategic position to advance in the direction of socialist revolution as a result of their experience of imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism. They see issues clearly, since productive and distributive processes are not obscured or blurred by the trappings and diversions of the capitalist ‘welfare state,’ and capitalist corruption — Kwame Nkrumah, quoted in Fancher, Mark P. (2019).
It is not enough to remember our freedom îghters and heroes; we must also remember the traitors who betrayed our cause and our people - Engraved on Bildad Kaggia’s gravestone.
In the vast majority of African countries, only socialist orientation opens the door for the oppressed peoples to freedom, independence, prosperity and progress — A Communist Call to Africa (1977? 19).
But Communists also know that capitalism is only a passing phase in human development. It can and must be abolished and replaced by socialism, common ownership and democratic control — working class state power.In time, developing into communist society, a society completely ‘free from the exploitation of man by man’. History and the experience of the socialist countries since 1917 have proven this to be the case. While capitalism continues to decay, at times to fascism, socialism has delivered stunning gains for working people, women and minorities. Socialism is the only future that can work. Today more than ever, capitalism means extinction. — Young Communist League. https://ycl.org.uk/
v
i
Dedication
Dedicated to • All those who died in the struggle for justice, equality and socialism in Kenya. • Activists, writers, teachers, librarians and all those who dare to be dangerous in the face of attacks by imperialism and its local allies.
vii
Acknowledgments
Kenya National Archives for various documents.
Nick Rogers, London, for a copy of KPU’sWananchi Declarationthe from Archives of Douglas Rogers.
Ukombozi Library, Nairobi, for access to the Kenya Resistance Archives and for research support. Particularly: Nicholas Mwangi and Kimani Waweru.
viii
Abbreviations
DTM December Twelve Movement. ICFTU International Confederation of Trade Unions. IBRD International Bank for Reconstruction and Development KADU Kenya African Democratic Union. KANU Kenya African National Union (Used in this book to refer to the party in its early years when it was anti-capitalist and anti imperialist). KANU-B Kenya African National Union (Used in this book to refer to the Party after it had turned to capitalism under Jomo Kenyatta, particularly after 1965). KPU Kenya People’s Union. MWAKENYA Muungano wa Wazalendo wa Kukomboa Kenya / Union of Patriots for the Liberation of Kenya. UMOJA Umoja wa Kupigania Demokrasia Kenya / United Movemen for Democracy in Kenya.