On my behalf and that of the fledgling Kenya Left Alliance, I would like to congratulate the Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) for holding its 2nd National Congress. Earlier, on the 30th of March 2024, I attended the Mega pass out parade of CPK’s cadres. I witnessed in that pass out parade, as always, the energy, vibrancy and ideological clarity and commitment of CPK’s leadership and members, both in organizing and mobilizing. The mega pass out parade rejuvenated in some of us the fervour for revolutionary struggles. This congress once again rekindles our revolutionary spirits and ideological commitment. Red salute comrades!
This congress comes at a tumultuous and historical period in Kenya, Africa and globally. In Kenya, it is a period when the masses of Kenya, led by the vibrant and restless spirits of the youth, are saying enough is enough to the status quo of oppression and exploitation by the ruling elite. It is a period when the fascist Zionist regime of Israel continues unabated to commit genocide in Palestine while being applauded and actively supported by USA and other imperialist western nations. It is a period when the struggle and solidarity for the liberation and self-determination of Western Sahara continues to be waged by the gallant fighters of Saharawi Republic. The fight of the Saharawi people for independence and their inalienable right to self-determination is part of the broader battle in Africa against forces of neocolonialism and imperialism. This is a period when leftist and progressive people’s regimes are rising in Brazil, Venezuela, and elsewhere in the world, as Cuba, the long-time bastion of socialism and the bulwark against western imperialism continues to hold the fort and to inspire many.
Vociferous chants are getting louder all over the world:
Down with imperialism, down!
Down with oppression and exploitation, down!
Down with the exploitative ruling elite, down!
Forward with the struggle for liberation all over the world!
In Kenya, the masses have arisen. The people are literally at war with the status quo. June 25th 2024 was a defining moment in the history of resistance in Kenya. The masses, led by the youth, stormed and took over legislative power. The government was literary overthrown in what Frantz Fanon refers to as people reclaiming their state and country. The Kenya Kwanza administration that purports to be in power is an illegitimate government. It was overthrown on 25th. I have written elsewhere that the possibility that this revolution will lead to a radical and just social order in Kenya depends on how well placed the social forces, revolutionary movements and organisations are to harness this uprising. I am aware that they are already solid moves in this direction under the National Provisional Coordination Committee of People’s Assemblies (NCCPA), that is being fronted by the Communist Party of Kenya, the Revolutionary Socialist League (RSL) and Kongamano la Mapinduzi (KLM – Coalition for Revolution) among others. These moves are within the politics and logics of mass movements.
The politics of mass movements
There have been similar mass uprisings in the history of resistance in Kenya. Remember the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy, popularly known as FORD? Remember the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)? FORD comprised some progressive and leftist individuals; a few had emerged from ideological leftist movements such as December Twelve Movement (DTM), MWAKENYA, Umoja wa Wazalendo wa Kenya (UWAKE), among others. The left got into FORD as individuals, owing no loyalty to a leftist political party or organization. The same happened in NARC. No matter the depth of their ideological clarity and commitment, leftist individuals were easily compromised and co-opted into the system. I know you can easily name such individuals. Some of these individuals are with us to date. The same mistake should not be repeated in this uprising. This is why I am happy to see leftist parties and organisations such as CPK, RSL and KLM coming out strongly and taking a central role in this mass movement of our time. But is this enough? Is this the silver bullet in the ideological grounding of mass movements? It is not. The left and their parties and organisations should locate themselves in mass movements as an organized and ideological force. Frantz Fanon points out that absence of ideology to be “the great danger that threatens Africa”.
Radical ideological is integral in mass movements. Ideological grounding in itself is work in progress involving constant, continuous and laborious reflections and practice. I consider the grounding of ideology, contrasted with indoctrination, as being important. This is based on the argument that ideology should not merely be the transmission and indoctrination of a system of ”scientific” ideas, but the socialization of progressive and radical ideas among the masses. After all, as argued by Amilcar Cabral, in his speech, Tell no lies, Claim no easy victories. “Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.” The nature of ideological tools available and socialized in social movements are therefore crucial bridges of connecting social movements to revolution. This is where the fledgling Kenya Left Alliance (KLA) comes in.
The Kenya Left Alliance
The best drivers of leftist alliances are the organized leftist political parties. However, joining or belonging to a leftist political party or organization should be a well thought out process, not a matter of excitement, peer pressure or a sense of felling compelled. Activists have been, and many are still involved, in forms of organisations in some way. No activist should operate in isolation. Some activists have reservations on joining leftist political parties and organisations as they have been hurt before. Some have even been hurt recently. It is not that such activists will never again belong to leftist parties and organisations, only that they are cautious. They will join soon, or form one at their opportune time. Caution is not a weakness, it is indeed a quality of being perceptive. Ultimately, progressive individuals should belong and be engaged in progressive political parties or organisations as this is where active political work takes place. The idea is to make KLA a home where such individuals can engage in leftist politics and organizing, before they align with a meaningful and committed leftist political formation. In other words, KLA is both united from the left in Kenya and a base for leftist individuals. There should be a collective home for leftist individuals. This is more so for leftist individuals, locally and abroad, who are still not yet located in leftist political parties and organisations. Some are still trying to figure out where to belong. These leftist comrades are keen to engage in local leftist politics and in the ongoing uprising. These comrades may or may not be able to engage actively, but may engage through progressive ideas and experiences and even financially. Kenya Left Alliance is thus envisaged to evolve as a broader front for the left in Kenya, locally and abroad.
An alliance of leftist parties, organisations and activists is actually possible. There is for example the Socialist Alliance in Australia that is an alliance of various socialist organisations and activists, initiated by the Democratic Socialist Perspective and the International Socialist Organisation. In Germany, the left, known in German as Die Linke, commonly referred to as the Left Party is a democratic socialist political party in Germany. These, and more leftist formations, could be models that the left Kenya Left Alliance can progressively learn from. The primary goal being unity of the ideological left.
Leftist activists, engaging in political parties, organizations, or independently, are important in that leftist organizing is also about sharing of radical ideas, the battle of ideas, and resources of various kinds (financial, in kind etc). As we move forward, the Kenya Left Alliance will make collective decisions as to whether it will be based on the three pillars: leftist political parties, left organisations and leftist activists. The bottom line is for the alliance to be: 1) Anti- capitalist, 2) Anti-imperialist, 3) Socialist, and 4) Pan- Africanist. Such a leftist alliance can be grounded in this country.
I agree that committed leftists cannot stay on the sidelines, engaging only in the battle of ideas. There is the urgent need for left unity to step into the ongoing mass uprisings and provide workable and radical ideas and solutions. Kenya is the cusp of an unfolding revolution where a youthful and a vibrant generation is holding sway. Leftist unity and organizing this revolutionary moment is crucial and necessary, knowing very well that mass political excitement also contains naivety, liberalism and seeds of betrayal.
How the Kenya Left Alliance will appreciate and motivate the role of everyone inclined to socialism will solidify efforts towards the unity of the left at this critical juncture in our historical struggles in Kenya. Phases of generational resistance are closing in against an incompetent regime and an oppressive system, and rising to seize the revolutionary moment toward just social order that we have been struggling for. This is not the time for divisions. As often said, we are still very few of us. It is my hope that this 2nd National Congress of CPK will discuss and ground such an alliance.
Viva comrades viva!
Afrika Moja, Afrika Huru!
Afrika Huru, Africa ya Kijamaa!
