The ever increasing political and economic strife, the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor, the increased militarism of global imperial forces, and the advent of neoliberalism all point to one thing; the class struggle, naturally, keeps getting more and more acute. As the society keeps getting more and more unequal, so does the need for the ruling classes to protect themselves more and more from the people, and, therefore, so does their thirst to maintain the monopoly of violence in a bid to keep the people enslaved.

What, therefore, does this mean for us? What are we to do?

The need for we as the people to resist this onslaught, as has been done for years and years, cannot be more imperative. For we, as the toiling people, this means nothing but desperate struggle to counter what we can comfortably call desperate resistance from the ruling elite. We have the responsibility to carry through the class struggle to its logical conclusion.

The essence of these reflections on Pio Gama Pinto: Kenya’s Unsung Martyr is to vividly expose and highlight the ongoing class struggle that has been characteristic of the historical development of Kenya.

The bulk of the activity that Pio Gama Pinto engaged in, as clearly highlighted and explained in the book, was geared towards furthering this struggle, and was anchored upon his understanding of the laws of the development of the society.

Reflections

By the time Pio returned to Kenya from India in 1949, the anti-colonial fight had intensified, with land and economic rights at the top of the agenda.Together with other organisers within the trade union and working class movement such as Makhan Singh, Fred Kubai and Bildad Kaggia, who had already laid the groundwork and established links between workers and peasants with radical politics, Pinto embarked on a militant approach in the anti-colonial struggle. Their strategy, as opposed to the moderate strategy of peacefully petitioning the colonial authorities for ‘rights’, correctly read the mood of the vast majority of the people of Kenya who were suffering greatly under the yoke of colonial exploitation. They organised strikes, which proved much more effective in helping the workers meet their demands.

It had become increasingly obvious that ‘constitutional’, ‘non-violent’ methods of fighting for one’s rights was absolutely futile in dealing with the settler-colonial combination which was charged with the administration of the country. Organised violence was the only answer to such a situation.

In addition to helping the workers champion for better working conditions, the militant approach championed by Pinto and his allies helped improve the image of the working class movement among the masses, and boosted the confidence of the masses on the movement. It is this confidence in the power of the people that led to establishment of the Kenya Land and Freedom Army, popularly known as Mau Mau, to spearhead the struggle for Kenya’s independence. The KLFA was the first armed liberation movement in Africa.

Pinto’s involvement with the Mau Mau armed liberation struggle indicated his readiness to do whatever it took to realise the aspirations of the people of Kenya and to champion the cause of the working class throughout the world. Indeed, he recognised the need to support and take part in the proletarian struggle that engulfed the world and that had manifested itself in the struggle for self-determination of the people.

The run up to formal independence in Kenya saw Pinto getting involved in the national political party at that time, the Kenya African National Union (KANU). Perceiving independence as an end to exploitation, land alienation and imperialist influence, Pinto, together with Bildad Kaggia and other leftists, was the principal organiser of the section of KANU which was more left wing than Kenyatta, and which stuck to the genuine demands of the African people in their activities within KANU.

What, though, are the genuine demands of the African people in Kenya?

Said Pinto,

The sacrifices of the hundreds of thousands of Kenya’s freedom fighters must be honoured 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 be hungry and live in ignorance. Uhuru must be Uhuru for the masses – Uhuru from exploitation, from ignorance, disease and poverty.’^[1]

It goes for a fact that the people of Kenya are interested in improving their material conditions of existence. Kenyans want access to land as the primary factor of production. Kenyans want food. Kenyans want access to quality healthcare, education, and decent housing. Kenyans want access to the basic necessities as well as the luxuries. Kenyans want peace, freedom and dignity. Kenyans want Socialism, and Pinto understood.

Politically, Pinto’s views were beyond many in his depth of political understanding and social consciousness. To him Socialism meant its true application. Pinto lived his Socialism. He lived by his principles, and died by his principles. He was quick to react to any injustice, and he spent long hours helping other people.^[2]

Throughout his political career, Pinto kept his focus on three aspects of political work; the need for a clear vision and ideological clarity – which in his case was socialism; the need for an organisation which could ensure that the vision was implemented – setting up organisations such as the Kenya Freedom Party and working with the progressive KANU party are examples; and reliance on working people and party cadres to bring about social and political change – setting up the Lumumba Institute was one such example. Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement.^[3]

Pinto became an important person in the struggle not only because of his clear ideological grasp of the situation and his total commitment to the liberation struggle but also because he linked different aspects of the struggle and ensured that all worked together to strengthen the overall anti-imperialist struggle.

The involvement of Pio Gama Pinto in the struggles of the Kenya Land and Freedom Army, FRELIMO in Mozambique as well as Goa, Angola and Guinea Bissau point towards his internationalism that is characteristic of Socialism. Internationalism, far from being an abstract idea, is a recognition of the global character of the economy as it is, and a representation of the advancement of the forces of production. Internationalism is an appreciation of the fact that the workers have no country. It is our knowledge of the fact that the struggle is to ultimately free every human being from exploitation and slavery, and to achieve the total abolition of classes.

Pinto’s aim was a unified approach across Africa.^[4] The unified front, akin to Ernesto Che Guevara’s conception of a Common Front for all African Revolutionary Movements, would lead the people of Africa in combatting imperialism, neocolonialism and their agents all across the African continent. This Common Front would, if brought to existence, unite the struggling masses of Africa through their revolutionary movements. By unifying the people, it is needless to mention that the unification of Africa under a Socialist government would be attained.

Clearly, Pinto’s Socialist, anti-imperialist and internationalist stance was a serious threat to the agents of capitalism and global imperialism. It is necessary to see the wider political reasons behind the assassination of Pinto as well as the immediate cause and events that led to his assassination. In essence, Pinto was the victim of the regressive, conservative forces, backed by imperialism, who came to power at independence. They immediately set about consolidating their position and eliminating all forces that did or could threaten their rule. The ground had been well prepared for them by the departing colonial power which ensured that Jomo Kenyatta, their favourite to maintain Kenya within the imperialist orbit, got maximum power and support.^[5]

How, therefore, do we remember and acknowledge the contribution of Pio Gama Pinto to the struggles of the people of Kenya, Africa and the world?

The way to do this would be to carry through the International Proletarian Revolution. Our task is to pick up the rifle and keep fighting. We have to keep up the struggle as begun and continued by the pioneer revolutionaries of Africa. We have to create the Common Front, as envisioned by Pinto. We have to unite the people of Africa, and the way to do this is to unite our revolutionary movements. We must struggle together. We must unite all proletarian revolutionary parties into one giant organization. With this, we shall be able to carry through the tasks of our generation.