Shiraz Durrani
SHIRAZ DURRANI is a Kenyan political exile living in Britain. His writings on Kenya and on politics of information draw on his experiences in Kenyan underground politics and on work in public libraries and lecturing in Britain. Some of his books and articles are available at. https://www.africanbookscollective.com/search-results?form.keywords=shiraz+Durrani
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Utilising his experience as a freedom fighter in India, Ambubhai took active part in the freedom struggle of Kenya. He worked with the Kenya ABrican Union leaders.
In 1952 when the armed struggle for freedom started, he would collect arms, food grains, clothes and money and send them to the Mau Mau freedom 6ghters. He often gave them shelter in his house or shop to keep them safe from the prying eyes of the British police and army,
This article looks at the hidden history of Patel and how he was marginalised by Jomo Kenyatta.
one. The resistance of Zionism and imperialist takeover of Palestine and the massacre of
its people has also been long. No imperialist power will support its liberation, nor condemn
‘Israel’ for its genocides. On the contrary, they actively support the genocides by supplying
arms and finances to ‘Israel’. It is only people’s war against imperialism in individual
countries and with global unity of working people can end this system of killing people to
capture land and resources.
Utilising his experience as a freedom fighter in India, Ambubhai took active part in the freedom struggle of Kenya. He worked with the Kenya ABrican Union leaders.
In 1952 when the armed struggle for freedom started, he would collect arms, food grains, clothes and money and send them to the Mau Mau freedom 6ghters. He often gave them shelter in his house or shop to keep them safe from the prying eyes of the British police and army,
This article looks at the hidden history of Patel and how he was marginalised by Jomo Kenyatta.
one. The resistance of Zionism and imperialist takeover of Palestine and the massacre of
its people has also been long. No imperialist power will support its liberation, nor condemn
‘Israel’ for its genocides. On the contrary, they actively support the genocides by supplying
arms and finances to ‘Israel’. It is only people’s war against imperialism in individual
countries and with global unity of working people can end this system of killing people to
capture land and resources.
Mau Mau Conference at the University of Nairobi in October 2024 in the hope that they will encourage greater awareness of the current situation and its links with historical events associatedwith Mau Mau. The full version is available at:file:///Users/shirazdurrani/Downloads/From%20Mau%20Mau%20to%20RutoMustGo-%20Essays%20on%20Kenya's%20Struggle%20Against%20Imperialism(Nov2024).pdf
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.
So begins an adventure for four Kenyan youths, two boys and two girls, that explores the depth of deprivation and disaster that capitalism has been for working people in Kenya. Tricked into becoming forced workers for a factory with owners from USA, Britain and Japan, the youth live the harsh life of exploited workers. However, their sense of justice soon turns them into rebels seeking life and freedom. The story takes them through life-threatening adventures, fighting the armed forces summoned by the factory owners. Will they manage to survive the brutal attacks by fierce dogs and armed militia? Will they live to see the sea at Mombasa they had set out for?
• Promote socialist ideas, experiences and world outlook
• Increase awareness of classes, class contradictions and class struggles in Kenya, both historical and current
• Expose the damage done by capitalism and imperialism in Kenya and Africa
• Offer solidarity to working class, peasants and other working people and communities in their struggles for equality and justice
• Promote internationalism and work in solidarity with people in Africa and around the world in their resistance to imperialism
• Make explicit the politics of information and communication as tools of repression and also of resistance in Kenya
Two Paths Ahead
The Ideological Struggle for the Liberation of Kenya
1960-1990
Shiraz Durrani
ISBN:
The battles between socialism and capitalism in Kenya have 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 Kenya African National Union (KANU) Party was in favour of socialism. It was Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel wrap Moi who used violence to suppress socialism and assassinated, disappeared, exiled or imprisoned its adherents. Capitalism became the unstated state policy. 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, ignoring the all-important class and ideological position of organisations and their leaders. Two Paths Ahead examines the Kenyatta and Moi governments’ support for capitalism and contrasts it with the socialist stand of the original KANU Party, the Kenya People’s Union (KPU), the December Twelve Movement and Mwakenya as well as the voice of the 1982 coup leaders. This long history of socialism has also been suppressed by forces of capitalism represented by all Kenyan governments since independence.
This book traces the battles between the two ideologies. It looks at the struggle at the Lumumba Institute in the 1960s. It examines the position on land, social policy and worker rights through documents and actions of the opposing sides. It traces the stand of key leaders as proponents of either capitalism or socialism. The final section reproduces some of the documents which inform discussions on the ideological struggle in Kenya. 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.
Pio Gama Pinto was born in Kenya on March 31, 1927. He
was assassinated in Nairobi on February 24, 1965. In his short
life, he became a symbol of anti-imperialist struggles in Kenya
as well as in Goa in India. He was actively involved with Mau Mau during Kenya’s war of independence. He was detained by the British colonial authorise from 1954-59. His contribution to the struggle for liberation for working people spanned two continents - Africa and Asia. And it covered two phases of imperialism - colonialism in Kenya and Goa and neo-colonialism in Kenya after independence. His enemies saw no way of stopping the intense, lifelong struggle waged by Pinto - except through an assassin's bullets. But his contribu- tion, his ideas, and his ideals are remembered and upheld even today by people active in liberation struggles.
Pinto in his own words
It had become increasingly obvious that“constitutional”,“non-violent” methods of fighting for one’s rights were absolutely futile in dealing with the settler-colo- nial administration. Organised violence was the only answer”. (1963).
Kenya’s Uhuru must not be transformed into freedom to exploit, or freedom to be hungry and live in ignorance. Uhuru must be Uhuru for the masses - Uhuru from exploitation, from ignorance, disease and poverty (1963).
Pinto was assassinated by the regime on 24 February 1965 and Kenya has yet to replace him - Donald Barnett (1972).
Pio Pinto fell on the battlefield in our common war against neo-colonialism. Along with the immortal Patrice Lumumba ... he has joined the ranks of our martyrs whose blood must be avenged. In such honourable company, his death will recruit new armies of Pintos to continue the fight in which he died [in] the effort to create a united socialist Africa - John K. Tettegah. (1966
Durrani captures the dynamism of transition from colonialism to neo-colonialism: “Imperialism replaced colonialism, African elites replaced White Settlers, neo-colonial government replaced colonial government. Resistance changed from the War of Independence to War of Economic Independence. Worker and peasant resistance is evident once again. History is on the march”.
Durrani captures the dynamism of transition from colonialism to neo-colonialism: “Imperialism replaced colonialism, African elites replaced White Settlers, neo-colonial government replaced colonial government. Resistance changed from the War of Independence to War of Economic Independence. Worker and peasant resistance is evident once again. History is on the march”.
This event commemorates the life of Makhan Singh (1913-1973) who was a radical trade unionist, revolutionary, and activist in Kenya. He was imprisoned, detained, and exiled for over 15 years by the colonial authorities in India and Kenya for his outspoken stance on the imperatives of national liberation of the East African Territories. He dedicated his life to social, economic and political liberation and was an ardent campaigner for the rights of all workers in Kenya in speaking out against the regimes of colonialism and imperialism.
The event will not only highlight this important yet overlooked labour and anti-colonial history but will also bring together voices of activists, family members, and commentators who will reflect on this history of the labour movement in Kenya and on Makhan Singh’s life.
An edited volume (edited by Shiraz Durrani, Vita Books: London) which explores various aspects of Makhan Singh’s life will be released at this event.
Speakers
Judith Heyer, Emeritus Fellow, Somerville College, University of Oxford
Mary Davis, Visiting Professor in Labour History, Royal Holloway, University of London
Shiraz Durrani, Kenyan activist in exile; (Retired) Senior Lecturer, London Metropolitan University
Sukant Chandan, activist and film-maker
Dr. Inderjit Jabbal-Gill (Daughter of Makhan Singh)
Arvinder S. Jabbal (Grandson of Makhan Singh)
This event will be chaired by Dr Navtej Purewal.
Available at: https://www.readafricanbooks.com/publisher-profiles/shiraz-durrani-and-kimani-waweru/
BUILDING AND MANAGING STRONG LIBRARIES
Discussion led by Shiraz Durrani. Nairobi. September 10, 2016
The event was organised to mark the 3rd Biennial Conference of the African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA), held at the United States International University-Africa, Nairobi, from October 24-26, 2019. However, unlike at the ASAA Conference, the delegates and participants at the Mathare event were not from any academic community but real-life activists and intellectuals, rarely seen at academic conferences but who are often turned into specimen of development or poverty ‘experts’, examined under academic microscope in fulfilment of PhD and funding requirements.
Tumechoka! and Tunakataa!.[We arre tired! We Refuse!] This is the RutoMustGo movement, sometimes referred to as the resistance of the GenZ. The resistance did not grow out of a vacuum. The young generation, well educated and articulate could not be absorbed into the
economic life of the country. They remained unemployed and voiceless as local industries were suppressed and the economy returned to the colonial model of serving the needs of imperialism, not the people. Thus, the last ten years of so has seen a people’s movement to learn, study and
understand lessons of how capitalism and imperialism have captured the country and driven people to poverty.