Stronger than Faith

Oduor Ong'wen

Description

Few events in Kenya's recent history have captured the imagination of the nation as those of the period from the late 1970s. Between the pages of this memoirs is a history of that period which is hardly taught in our schools and is fast receding into the holes of the insignificant as a younger generation takes over. The history of that era, like that of all the eras that have made this country, needs to be preserved by those who witnessed and participated in it. In Stronger Than Faith, Oduor Ong'wen adds clarity to the politics of an important but dark era of our history. It adds clarity to why that era is not entirely gone.

Sujets

• Political
• Lettres et linguistique
• Biography
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Vita Books
• Date de parution: 28 octobre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789914962185
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

STRONGER THAN FAITH
My Journey In the Quest for Justice in Repressive Kenya - 1958-2015
Oduor Ong’wen
Published in 2022. Vita Books P.O. Box 62501-00200 Nairobi. Kenya http://vitabooks.co.ke [e-mail]
Distributed Worldwide by: African Books Collective P.O. Box 721 Oxford, OX1 9EN [e-mail] www.africanbookscollective.com
ISBN 978-9914-9621-9-2 (Paper) ISBN 978-9914-9621-8-5 (eBook)
© 2022 Oduor Ong’wen Photos: made available to Vita Books by the author.
Design and layout by Brian Rowa Cell: [phone] [e-mail]
IN MEMORIAM
The struggles that shaped us were pioneered and championed by great patriots on whose shoulders I still stand, even though they have transited. These include Makhan Singh, Dedan Kimathi, Me Katilili wa Menza, Pio Gama Pinto, JM Kariuki, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Bildad Kaggia, JD Kali and Masinde Muliro among others. Their courage and belief in a free and truly democratic society inspired all of us that were later to join the trenches in furtherance of the struggles. The following comrades who fought side by side with me in those trenches have since preceded us in the world hereafter. I honour their memory and salute their patriotic courage:
Adhu Awiti
Ali Mwanga Sayeikwo
Asowa Okwe
Egadwa Mulehi
Gacheche wa Miano
George Otieno
George Waninga
Gicheha Mungai
Jeff Mwangi
Jembe Mwakalu
Joseph Odongo Langi
Kaara Macharia
Karimi Nduthu
Kariuki Gathitu
Katama Mkangi
Mbewa Ndede
Muhoro wa Githirwa
Mukaru Ng’ang’a
Mungai Waruiru
Munyui wa Kahuha
Mwakudua wa Mwachofi
Ng’ang’a Thiong’o
Njuguna Mutahi
Njuguna Mutonya
Nyapanji Ochieng’ Kabaselleh
Odhiambo Mbai
Odhiambo Olel
Odindo Opiata
Okong’o Arara
Onyango Oloo
Oki Ooko Ombaka
Opany Mwai
Opwapo Ogayi
Otieno Kajwang’
Owuor Atieno
Paddy Onyango Sumba
Peter “Young” Kihara
Silas Imbo
Steve Amoke (Brig. John Odongo)
Titus Adungosi
Wahome Mutahi
Wang’ondu Kariuki
Wangari Maathai
Wanjiru Kihoro
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In Memoriam
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Foreword
Introduction
SECTION I: EARLY YEARS (1958-1979)
Chapter 1: Praying, Playing And Grazing
Chapter 2: Early Schooling
Chapter 3: Assasination That Changed My Course
SECTION II: COMRADE POWER (1980-1982)
Chapter 4: Justice on Trial
Chapter 5: Harambee
Chapter 6: Sonu, Repression and the 1982 Coup
Chapter 7: Post-Coup Crackdown
SECTION III: DECEMBER TWELVE MOVEMENT AND MWAKENYA (1981-1992)
Chapter 8: Taking Cover
Chapter 9: Learning the Real History
Chapter 10: Dialectics and Kenya’s Political Economy
Chapter 11: Subterranian Press
Chapter 12: Working Among Workers
Chapter 13: Back to Jail
Chapter 14: A Million Flowers Bloom

Illustrations

SECTION IV: EXILE (1990-1993)
Chapter 15: On the Flight
Chapter 16: Mekaremo to Uwake
Chapter 17: The Making of a Guerrilla
Chapter 18: Return to Pluralism
Chapter 19: Guilty by Association
SECTION V: LEARNING THE HARD WAY (1992-2015)
Chapter 20: From Moi to Moi
Chapter 21: Elusive Walk to Constitutional Reforms
Chapter 22: Moi Wins, Again!
Chapter 23:Legitimacy Versus Legality
Chapter 24: Narc and False Transition
Chapter 25: Bomas and Turncoats
Chapter 26: Oranges and Bananas
Chapter 27: Grand Electoral Theft and Grand Coalition
Chapter 28: The New Eating Chiefs
Epilogue
Glossary
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There were times, now and then, when my mother would hear something about me in the media, or she would detect fatigue in my voice when we spoke on phone (after cell phones made their invasion of the otherwise tranquil life she had led). “George, do you really need this?” She would ask. My mother always insisted on calling me by the English name I was given and which I had long consigned to disuse. To paraphrase Chinua Achebe, the only thing I have in common with Her Britannic Majesty the Queen Mother of England is that we both lost our George. But my mother believed one is closer to God if one carried an English name. I would laugh and respond: “Yes mother, I really do need this this, I love it.” Of course my mother never expected a different answer but drew satisfaction in always asking. Since my first incarceration, she had resigned to the fact that struggle was part of my life – that there was a force stronger than faith that always pulled me to fight for change, attendant dangers notwithstanding. She was the strongest pillar in my political life. I can’t acknowledge her enough.
Along this journey spanning six decades, I have been inspired and supported by many great people. In my inner life, my wife Emily and our children Akinyi, Otieno and Ochieng’ have surrounded me with love and inspired me to share their time with other members of society. I thank them heartily for ungrudgingly donating part of me to the cause of humanity. I believe this is not in vain.
My father taught me never to appropriate anything that is not mine – and if I have to I must ask and receive it from the owner. This has guided my private and public life and remained my compass. I owe him this simple lesson in leading a life of integrity. Then there were my siblings who loved me unreservedly in spite of my cheekiness and occasional inconveniences.
As I participated in the struggle for a freer, more democratic and equal society, many good Kenyans and non-Kenyans shaped my life, knowingly and otherwise. My History teacher John Olago Aluoch and Steve Amoke aka Brigadier John Odongo honed my early interest in social change. Later, various fellow student leaders gave me the comfort to know that I was not pursuing a lost cause. Relentless struggles against dictatorship by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and other icons of our nationalist movement like Bildad Kaggia, Pio Gama Pinto, Achieng’ Oneko and JM Kariuki blazed for us the path we walked later.
When repression was carried a notch higher, we went further underground. I wish to acknowledge the solidarity and mutual inspiration that existed in the underground movement from the December Twelve Movement (DTM), Muungano wa Wazalendo wa Kenya (Mwakenya) and Umoja wa Kupigania Demokrasia Kenya (UWAKE). They are too many for me to name all here. While some are still around and are still on the journey, others paid the ultimate price and I have saluted their memories under “In Memoriam” section of this book. From the late 1980s, the struggle moved from the subterranean to overt. Many patriots, among them Bishops Alexander Kipsang’ Muge, John Henry Okullu, David Gitari, Ndingi mwana a’Nzeki and Timothy Njoya inspired what became known as the Second Liberation. Shadrack Gutto, Edward Oyugi, Oki Ooko Ombaka, Anyang’ Nyong’o, George Anyona, Mukhisa Kituyi, Joe Ager, James Orengo, Martin Shikuku, Paddy Ouma Onyango, James Nyikal, Odhiambo Nyaduwa, Kiraitu Murungi, Jembe Mwakalu, Abdulrahman Wandati, Njeri Kabeberi, Zahid Rajan, Zarina Patel, Ntai wa Nkuraru, Mukaru Ng’ang’a, Paddy Onyango Sumba, Kaari Murungi, Wahu Kaara, Ngotho Kariuki, Kaberere Njenga, Wangari Maathai, Dennis Akumu, Christopher Mulei, Maina Kiai, Kivutha Kibwana, Onyango Omari, Davinder Lamba, Apollo Njonjo, John Munuve, Willy Mutunga, Muthoni Kamau, Ndungi Githuku, Kathini Maloba, Saulo Busolo, George Kapten, and Agnes Abuom among many others were part of the great army of Second Liberation and their efforts shaped what is documented in this publication. My comrades during the military training at Lake Mburo National Park deserve a special guard of honour.
At Kamiti Prison, we established a ‘Liberation University’, where we had discourses on the history and future of our nation. Maina wa Kinyatti, Adhu Awiti, Onyango Oloo, Mwandawiro Mghanga, Odindo Opiata, Oginga Ogego, Odhiambo Olel, Odenda Lumumba, Omondi K’Abir, Njuguna Mutonya, Buke Wafula, Mugo Theuri, Ong’ele Pala, Wahinya Boore, Njuguna Nding’o, Peter “Young” Kihara, Kamonye Manje, Maina Kiong’o, Owuor Atieno, Gitobu Imanyara, Muga K’Olale, Ollack Diego, Cornels Akelo (CA) Onyango, and Opondo Kakendo among others are both “professors” and “graduates” therefrom. I benefitted tremendously from the discussions and derived extraordinary inspirations from their insights and their wealth of knowledge.
Raila Odinga is my mentor, teacher, comrade and leader. He is easily the icon and embodiment of suffering and courage in our long struggle to liberate Kenya. Apart from his guidance over the decades, he was kind enough to pen the foreword of this book. To say that I am indebted to him is a gross understatement, except that I couldn’t find a befitting word. Another comrade and mentor, Professor Yash Tandon, also favoured me with the afterword to the book. I don’t take it for granted.
In writing this memoir, I was encouraged and inspired by many people, all whom it is impossible to name here. I, however, wish to single out my friend and former colleague Mercy Wambui who, apart from urging me to put my experiences in writing, proofread a few first pages amid her demanding work as head of communication at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Lastly, publishers have the thankless task of making sense out of the nonsense we give them. Shiraz Durrani of Vita Books is both a comrade and publisher-editor. He and Kimani Waweru were tolerant enough to accommodate my insistence on overshooting the runway as far as the length of this book was concerned. Thanks to their professionalism, this book did not end up being War and Peace – And War Again!
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
4Cs
Citizens Coalition for Constitutional Change
AACC
All African Conference of Churches
AALAE
African Association for Literacy and Adult Education
PPK
Peoples Party of Kenya
ACK
Anglican Church of Kenya
ACTS
African Centre for Technological Studies
ADC
African District Council
ADD
Faculty of Architecture, Design and Development
AFL-CIO
American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations
AK-47
Automatic Kalashnikov
ALICO
African Liaison Consulti