In his brief life, Pinto had become a voice of Kenyan and Indian anti-colonial and anti-imperialist movements. He was an early participant in Goa’s anti-Portuguese colonial struggle as well as Mau Mau during Kenya’s liberation war. From 1954 to 1959, he was imprisoned in Kenya by British colonial authorities. His commitment to the fight for working-class independence spanned various places of the world. He was a prolific author, but he stayed low-key. He believed he could do better by not competing in elections to join the bandwagon. This was a commitment to uncovering the injustices committed on innocent Africans who, while being politically knowledgeable, couldn’t even express their complaints in the world’s language. They became men who were frequently hampered by their failure to respond rhetorically to the complaints that came thick and hard, and instead had to resort to physical force in the end.
I learned about his unrelenting spirit of selflessness and the unimaginable lengths he went to help Mau Mau. Pinto was an important supplier in Nairobi for the Mau Mau, working with the Nairobi War Council to smuggle money, food, weapons, and classified info through the forests, and smuggling out of Kenya and then into the world’s news accounts and images of security forces massacres before his activities were uncovered and he was captured. He was concerned that many of those who gave up their land, educational and other resources, bodies, or even live in the name of freedom be properly honored.
Pinto was also an arbitrator. He was primarily responsible for stopping the Mau Mau’s vengeance from being directed at the Indian people. Vast numbers of Indians could have been slaughtered and their property stolen if he had not been able to join the underground conclaves of the freedom fighters unseen and if he’d never gained the confidence of members such as Jomo Kenyatta, Stanley Mathenge, Chief Koinange, and others for his sound and direct advice.
His rivals found no other way to put an end to his life-long suffering except with the assassin’s bullets. However, his contribution, his thoughts, can never be erased from the people’s hearts.
This book, Pio Gama Pinto: Kenya’s Unsung Martyr, didn’t attempt to be or pretend to be a detailed record of Pio Gama Pinto; rather, it is the beginning of the long journey needed to document Kenya’s history from an anti-imperialist viewpoint. It exposes the voices of many people who have written about Pinto to provide the most accurate representation of Pinto possible. In that spirit, it aims to make history accessible to those whose stories it is—Kenyans, Africans, and revolutionary people all over the world.
The sacrifices of the hundreds of thousands of Kenya’s freedom fighters must be honored by the effective implementation of the policy—a democratic, African, socialist state in which the people have the right to be free from economic exploitation and the right to social equality. 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’, he stated. He realized that the only way to honor the independence heroes was the implementation of socialism where workers could own the means of production.
Pinto was an excellent strategist. He secured massive funds for KANU without the knowledge of colonial forces which were wired to India from his communist contacts, then through Tanzania and finally to Kenya. He was very instrumental in the fight for independence in 1963. He did not contest in elections to maximize his efficiency. His quiet way of operations proved useful on many occasions. He was used to neutralize opposing organizations and he also helped fund progressive trade unions.
He was an ardent supporter of trade unions. Pinto looked up to Nkrumah and organized travels for he Ghanaian trade unionist, John Kofi Barku Tettegah, to come to Kenya and meet Kenyatta. He was very pleased to learn of the formation of the organization of African Trade unions in 1973 where Dennis Akumu was the secretary-general. His contact with Makhan Sigh and his support for that trade union was also a way he showed his solidarity. While in detention, Makhan Sigh received a book The Outline of History by H.G Wells, knowing the consequences of being caught.
Pinto would be shocked to find the present-day state of the workers, their wages, co-opted trade union leaders, and how the cost of living has risen. His deep concern about ordinary people made him envision a society where a human being could not be penalized for being underprivileged. He fought for economic development all over the country especially in less developed areas under colonial rule. He understood the exploitation by landlords in urban areas and pushed for rent control to cushion tenants. His role in advocating for free and universal healthcare was huge. He did the same for the education sector too. He brushed shoulders with elites who accumulated wealth at the expense of the proletariat. This was the genesis of the plot of his assassination. A true revolutionary in words and deeds.
His main principle was democracy, liberty and an equal chance for everyone. Kikuyu Central Association members who were detained with him spoke highly of him as a respectful person who treated everyone equally. As Odinga quoted in one of his articles,’ Anyone who met Pio soon forgot his pigmentation because his works and deeds left no doubt that he was a Kenyan nationalist.’ All the money he gathered for the liberation struggle was accounted for to the last coin. He was not a deceitful man. The money he got was used for its intended purpose. As the secretary of the Pan African press, he earned fifty pounds. He told his wife he earned twenty-five pounds. The rest, he gave to the poor.
On the day of his death, people from all walks of life streamed into his home; the poor, friends, people he had helped, and his fellow detainees. This showed what kind of person he was. The burial which took place the next day saw multitudes of people streaming in for the burial some even heading to the wrong venues. This response was unbelievable and is one of the most memorable sendoffs people have been accorded. The respect people accorded him will forever remain in the history books.
Even in his death, his socialist friends stayed loyal and true to him and his beliefs. They defied government directives and even raised funds in Pinto’s name. Notable names who contributed were, Fitz de Souza, Julius Nyerere, Achieng Oneko among others. This helped his family who now settled in Canada.
Comrade Pinto is away from us today because of the bullets of vicious killers. We wish he was there to continue with the fight but we are here to keep his memories alive. The ideals which he sacrificed and worked for must continue with the current generation to honor him. His light should never dim. It should continue to shine a light to the darkness in society. His dedication and sincerity to the struggle is something to be admired.
Long live the spirit of Comrade Pio!
