Pio Pinto: A Life in Struggle

I would have wanted to engage with Pinto, write letters, interact in struggle, and exchange ideas, but I will dedicate these reflections of his works as a mirror and guide to the character of our struggle, and principles of our lives to all fighters of social justice.

If he has been extinguished, yet there arise a thousand beacons, from the spark he bore.

March 31, 1927, brought a historic significance with it, there rose a fighter and a great defender for economic and social justice. He became a symbol of resistance and hope for the new Kenya. He studied and spent his early life in India, participated in working class struggles which prepared him for future tasks. Then, we have a Kenyan republic that is rebuilding from the colonial struggles, an independent Kenya that ought to decide and forge its independent path, though clouded with contradictions from the selfishness and thirst for power of the petty bourgeois.

Pio Gama Pinto, a radical African-Asian, with a committed revolutionary course, and a clear Political trajectory emerged in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, and lived ahead of his time. His revolutionary ideals remain intact, absorbed into history. Every progressive force owes up to the contributions of our forefathers, to continue with the liberation course and support struggles of the oppressed everywhere.

Kenya, a former British colony, was  going through a delicate transition from colonialism to independence by the time he was killed. Kenyan struggles against British colonialism, started with a wave of resistance from underground movements in Africa,  shook the colonial rule. In Kenya, the Land and Freedom Army was blazingly organizing the Kenyans against the British, sending uncomfortable heat, challenging the British occupation. Pio was instrumental in organizing, and coordinating underground resistance and mobilizing resources for the fighters.

Being a family man, a husband to Emma Cristine, and a father, he gave up his roles for the Liberation of the masses, at one point arrested in 1954, just five months after marrying Emma, and detained in Takwa and Manda island. The Sessional Paper No.10 on African Socialism, was the document that caused the tragic systematic murder of Pio at his home. A retrogressive document that has caused all the suffering and the continued misery, the ever-growing economic inequality in Kenya. The foundation document that through the USA government became practicalized and effected, it advocates for private ownership of land, provides for strengthening foreign relationships, rather than an economic break-up with the foreign powers and proposes ‘progressive’ taxation of its citizens without a development approach.

Kenya 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 must be Uhuru for the masses, Uhuru from ignorance, disease and poverty.— Pio Pinto

Pio stood for socialism and he was there when the working-class struggles called, he took a clear ideological stance on matters pressing the nation. He stood against the systematic oppression by imperialists, then, colonialism. Having participated consistently, in the struggles against British and Portuguese colonialism both in Kenya and India, he was instrumental in formation of the Goa National Congress, the Mau Mau War Council in Mathare, the Kenya African Union, they even took a house with Fitz De Souza to facilitate organizing the defence of six detainees. He was specific and clear that the urgent matter, in history, then, and now, is the class struggle. He believed that the only way to achieve freedom was through workers owning the means of production. His role in organizing the trade unions, workers’ strikes and boycotts in a very decisive period in history, suggests that Pinto understood the power of the organization of workers and the economic structure, that was the source of inequality. Workers are still subjected to harsh conditions to date, despite the potential power they hold it has not been capitalized due lack of an organization with ideological theory

The book details an experience of hope, courage and an avowed commitment to the liberation struggle. It grows the desire to live the ideals of Pinto, to fight and use Marxism as a science to transform our society.

Apart from being a key strategist, aiding and sourcing arms for the underground movements in Kenya, the Kenya Land and Freedom Army, he supported the Angolan, Mozambique, against Portuguese Colonialism, his contributions in Goa, projects the principle of working-class internationalism. In Parliament, he stood unshaken on ideological positions. He became a threat to the former home guards in the old Kenyan society, who reaped benefits from colonial masters, and were then protecting the interests of colonial masters.

When the Sessional Paper was being introduced in the floor of the house, a documet that would determine the foundation of a new Kenya, imposed by the western imperialist powers, Pinto had lobbied for the rejection of the document. He had disturbed the pigs’ peace, and there was discomfort among the pigs’ camp.

On February 24, 1965, Pinto was shot outside his house in the presence of her daughter, by three armed men. He had foreseen his death. A few days after the murder of Malcolm X, a Black Liberation activist, who, upon visiting Kenya, was inspired by Pio Gama Pinto, was shot on February 21, 1965. Exposing the cowardice of the Imperialist apparatus. His death spread a sad, and tragic moment for Kenya. Being the first martyr in independent Kenya, he was greatly loved and admired figure. His burial was attended massively, by top, influencial people. Both houses adjourned in honor of his memory. Oginga Odinga and Joseph Murumbi, Aching Oneko mourned deeply.

We celebrate and emulate his life today, a new generation of resistance inspired by his life has risen  among organizations.

The shutting of Lumumba Institute was an exposition of his killers. It is clear that ideological clarity is important, ideological theory is an important weapon in  our daily battles, to the social injustice system. It is also very important to carry and preserve the interests of the masses at heart, and hold strongly to our ideology, Marxism, as a science to transform our society. When I told Comrade Willy Mutunga about the reflections, he wrote:

Please go to City Park, (to his grave) . Gacheke can take you there. Quote the words on headstone.

This is the quote:

Our heroines and heroes are not in their graves. Their revolutionary Spirits are the equivalent of the Holy Spirit. They live within us.