Background to the historic uprisings in Kenya
Joe Kobuthi, senior editor of The Elephant (elephant.info), speaks to Firoze Manji on the background to the uprisings in Kenya. To understand why there have been such mobilizations, we have to look at the history of Kenya, the struggle for independence, the loss of real independence, the domination of neoliberal capitalism, and the situation in which the rich have got richer while the majority have been left destitute. What we are seeing is the potential emergence of a second independence movement.
Tecla Namachanja Wanjala
July 16, 2024Thanks Daraja press. This was very enlightening.
NARENDRA PACHKHÉDÉ
July 17, 2024Super, insightful and engaging!
Ole Gjerstad
July 17, 2024Thanks Firoze and Joe; this was very helpful in trying to get a handle on the tremor that’s shaking Kenya at the moment. So much to watch for among the oligarchs, the young activists, and will the institutions of imperialism intervene to dampen the fervour? Please keep doing this.
Michael Neocosmos
July 18, 2024Talking of elephants there are 2 particular ones in the Kenyan room that need to be flagged:
1. The role of the military in particular especially given its power in Somalia. The conversation was very interesting but it is extremely naive to ignore the possibility of a military coup in a context of instability and the inability of the political oligarchy to control the popular unrest. The example of Sudan may be instructive. A popular upsurge, followed by an ineffective liberal government due to the powers of the military and the collapse into civil war
2 the other elephant is foreign interference especially by wealthy oil states. The western empire has not collapsed yet although it is being challenged. The rich oil kingdoms have been interfering in Africa in a big way eg. The UAE has funded Sissi in Egypt and one faction in Sudan. It has also been involved in Libya. While one should applaud the decline in Western hegemony one should not forget its surrogates.
The eventual collapse of the Arab spring into its diametrical opposite should not be forgotten. Enthusiasm is insufficient and mass movements get exhausted after a while unless they can be supplemented by sophisticated organisation. Even in Sudan where organisation was present the upsurge failed.
The main beneficiaries of the popular upsurge in Kenya are likely to be the people of Haiti!
Brooke Gibson
August 22, 2024Looking forward to more articles