Kenya People's Union

The Kenya People's Union (KPU) was a socialist political party in Kenya led by Oginga Odinga. The party was banned in 1969.

Kenya People's Union
LeaderOginga Odinga
Deputy LeaderBildad Kaggia
FounderOginga Odinga
Founded1966
Dissolved1969 (banned)
Split fromKANU
IdeologySocialism
Political positionLeft-wing

History

Formation

In March 1966 a left-wing faction of the governing Kenya African National Union (KANU) instigated a mass defection from the party and formed the KPU.[1] KANU responded by amending Kenya's constitution to force a 'little general election' in June 1966. All MPs who defected to the KPU were nominated by the party to contest their seats. The KPU had wide support in the country with most districts having a KPU MP, although they were strongest amongst the Luo people in Nyanza province. Candidates in then Kikuyu-dominated Central province were trounced by KANU.[2]

Harassment

The state, dominated by the KANU party, employed many tactics to disrupt the KPU. local employees were pressured into dismissing any staff who supported the KPU. This led to the dismissal of over 35 civil servants with others demoted. Additionally, passports were seized for KPU members so as to stop their international travel whilst also forcing companies to dismiss any KPU supporting employees[3].

Three years of political harassment and detention of party leaders followed that ultimately brought about the end of the party. The New Nyanza General Hospital was opened on October 25, 1969 which the president Jomo Kenyatta was not excited about as it was built with Soviet money and seen as Odinga's project. Kenyatta did, however, lead the opening ceremonies of the hospital to boost his popularity in Nyanza Province. The Luo's were generally hostile towards as Tom Mboya had been murdered few months earlier, with many fingers pointing at Kenyatta. Riots opened at the opening ceremonies, when KPU supporters attacked Kenyatta's entourage. Over 10 people were killed as Kenyatta's security personnel opened a fire against the demonstrators. Odinga and several other KPU officials were arrested two days after the incident.

Dissolution

Oginga Odinga was placed under house arrest on 29 October, 1969, after violent anti-government demonstrations in Kisumu. His arrest, as well as other KPU MPs and officials, led to the storming of the Kenyan embassy in Moscow by Kenyan students[4].

The KPU was banned on October 30, 1969[5], claiming that the KPU and all its branches were "dangerous to the good governments of the Republic of Kenya" and that the KPU had become "more subversive both in its nature and in its objectives"[5]. This action transformed Kenya into a de facto one-party state[6].

KPU politicians

The following politicians were affiliated with KPU. In the parenthesis is the constituency they represented.[6][7]

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References
  1. Bethwell A. Ogot, William Robert Ochieng': Decolonization and independence in Kenya. 1995
  2. Abner Cohen: Urban Ethnicity. Routledge, 2004. ISBN 0-415-32982-5
  3. Hornsby, Charles (2012). Kenya : a history since independence. London New York: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-78076-501-3.
  4. "Odinga arrested after Kenya clashes" (PDF) (23). Workers Press. October 29, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  5. Emman Omari (August 12, 2013). "Tears and blood as Big 2 face off". Daily Nation. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  6. Daily Nation, October 23, 2009: The incident that transformed Kenya into a de facto one-party state
  7. Center for Multiparty Democracy: Politics and Parliamentarians in Kenya 1944–2007 Archived 2008-10-28 at the Wayback Machine
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