The liberation struggle never stops, every revolutionary has a role to play to make sure that everyone lives in an equitable society free of any kind of violence because the greater the fairness between the people the more human dignity is respected in all measures and as a result a nation prospers. The conditions set by colonialism still dominate to date as majority of the people are living in deplorable conditions, young men are killed daily in the Informal settlements as it was during colonial period and excessive  force is used against unarmed citizens during protests against the dominance of neoliberalism

Every revolutionary has a duty to play in every front of liberation struggle by all means possible for the interest of workers and the outcome reward should be liberation for the majority and not individual gain.

Reflection: Pinto—The Radical Journalist

Pinto was a Goan-Indian Kenyan born on March 31, 1927. He was sent to India for his education by his father and from his earliest age Pio Gama Pinto was a rebel. In 1944, he joined the Indian air force for a briefly as a clerk before taking a job with the post and telegraph company in Bombay. While still in Goa he was among the founder of Goan National Congress whose aim was to liberate Goa from the yoke of Portuguese colonial rule. It is this experience that he came back with and used it in every aspect on the Kenya’s liberation struggle.

He took part in the formation of radical trade union movements, progressive political and learning institution like the Patrice Lumumba Institute as well as publishing and popularizing socialist politics and policies. He was also active in the Mau Mau armed struggle by supplying guns, medical, cash and other support to fighters of the Mau Mau when it became obvious that organized armed struggle was needed for liberation.

While Pinto was still in the Indian air force where he spent 18 months, he studied journalism, which he used to unify other aspects of the struggles he was active in. He used journalism as a way to combat colonial government propaganda by editing newsletters and articles in different languages and assisted in the publication of anti-government African newsletters together with his team. In 1952, Pinto and other patriots like Ambu Patel began a publication to expose the cowardly and cruel action of the colonial government

In this line of work, Pinto realized the Importance of teamwork. He helped young newspapermen who used to publish broadsheets those days and because journalism needed resources, Pinto helped the young journalists by buying them papers, printing machines and even supporting them financially. While working in Asian Congress office he used skills to type broadsheets for them. However, the broadsheets were very radical that the colonial government banned them from the public.

Pio Gama Pinto saw a need to develop a communication strategy for the anti-colonial liberation forces because it was a good way to combat colonial and post-colonial attacks on its organization, leadership and radical ideology. Pinto together with his left-wing comrades saw the need of coming up with independent press as a channel of communication. Pinto participated in printing and distribution of anti-colonial posters and leaflets. It was necessary for any liberation forces in Kenya to counter the new imperialist onslaught with a more powerful media strategy. Pinto knew the power of the press in the distribution of information, he went to India in 1960 to ask for funds to help establish KANU press which he was given by the then firsts prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. That brought the birth of Pan African Press in 1961. The Press published articles such as Sauti ya Kanu and the Pan African.  Pio Gama Pinto was the editor for both. Although, he was a good role model as a journalist and a prolific writer, he seemed to prefer to operate behind the curtains. He never looked for personal credit. He used to work with a team of dedicated progressive like-minded socialists like Bildad Kaggia, Senior chief Koinange and the Mau Mau Activists tirelessly to make the dream of a socialist state a reality.

Pio Gama Pinto was a brilliant strategist in Oginga Odinga’s camp. He was able to link different aspects of the struggle and ensure the togetherness of all progressives to strengthen the overall anti-imperialist struggle, even when he was arrested and detained in 1954 in Takwa detention camp on Mandla island five months after his wedding to Emma Gama pinto, and later he was restricted at Kabarnet until October 1959. Thereafter he continued with his journalism work and his revolutionary activity. He was fearless and never afraid to annoy and embarrass colonial authorities.

Together with his progressive team, Pio Gama started a counter propaganda move to restore the morale of the detainees who were giving up and giving in to colonial propaganda that was demoralizing them. While in detention he played a very big role in a well-organized network as the editor of the propaganda. His anti-imperialism stand is seen through his writings that have survived like, Glimpses of Kenya’s Nationalist Struggle among others. His writings made him to be considered an enemy of the colonialist and the comprador group in the government. Pinto concern was for the ordinary person. His concern was not in favor of the ruling classes or their imperialist backers but rather for the worker and the quest for a revolutionary change to combat the historical imbalances imposed by colonialism. Pinto worked tirelessly to undress the well-dressed lies of imperialism and neo-colonialism.

Although Pinto did not have the powerful backing of the government, his journalism and activism gave him power beyond the government influence. Through his independent press he had influence in public opinion and this did not go well his enemies who plotted to assassinate him.

President Jomo Kenyatta felt threatened by Pinto and the group associated with him led by Oginga Odinga who opposed the move of Kenyatta and his trusted loyalists to take over lands acquired back from the colonialists who had been defeated by Kenyan’s resistance to colonialism. Further this was a continuation to entrench the imperialist interests at the expense of Kenyan citizen. Pinto together with his team planned an action and drafted a parallel paper that was to counter the Sessional Paper Number 10 which the comprador government was going to introduce in parliament. Odinga was the one to introduce the counter version of African socialism which was radically different from the government.

The comprador government saw this as a real threat and sought to suppress the voice of Pio Gama Pinto by eliminating him. He was killed a few days before the parliamentary sitting, it was clear that the radical paper that Pio Gama Pinto had prepared would expose Kenyatta government evilness. Pinto being the architect of the move was assassinated. His assassination put an end to the introduction of the alternative paper in parliament. Pinto used Journalism as a tool to combat capitalism really worked in his favor. The neocolonial government employed the tactics of using media to brainwash the society and it is still using media to push government interest and shape the narratives.