Post by Onyango Oloo on Aug 28, 2017 3:21:11 GMT 3
Revisiting my essay on Secession
ADVANCE WARNING:
Many readers of my digital essays may be taken aback by this particular one.
In a previous contribution, posted and distributed online just a few days ago, I looked at the debate on secession in Kenya. My views were squarely against the whole idea of separating from Kenya. In fact, my very last three paragraphs were contained in the following paragraphs:
“The problem in Kenya is political and ideological. We must confront the vestiges of orthodox colonialism, the stubborn survival of neo-colonialism and the legacy of the KANU dictatorship. The issues of poverty and unemployment afflicts the ordinary person whether they are Luo, or Gikuyu, Luhyias or Kipsigis, Somali or Tharaka, Kisii or Kamba.
“Devolution has taught us that Turkana can catch up to Nyeri and Mandera can surpass Migori.
“What we need in Kenya is more democracy, more justice, greater equality whether one is talking about region, tribe, religion, age, gender, and sexual orientation or ability/disability issues.
“At a time when people in East Africa are dreaming of a regional community and those in Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, Burkina Faso and Seychelles are forging transcontinental bonds to create a Pan African government surely it is a step backwards for some Kenyans to be speculating about dividing Kenya into a bunch of Kabilastans.”
This is what I, Onyango Oloo said just a few days ago.
But I have been taking another look at the subject.
Am I being spineless, flip flopping?
My friend and ideological mentor, Professor Gumbe, who by training is an engineer, and ideologically a Marxist-Leninist in a Facebook response to my comrade Josiah Omotto, reminded all of us about what Lenin said about the subject over a century ago.
What peaked my interest is when Professor Gumbe approached the matter from the angle of “self-determination.”
This is what he said:
“States and nations are transient in history. Few biblical times nations and states exist today.
“Nations have a right to live in states as they deem fit. Kisiis, Luos, Luhyias have a right to live in Kenya or join or form any other state.
"Pan Africanism only makes sense if it benefits us directly. A larger unit like the British Empire did not favour us at all. We opted for independence. So, we can only join a larger union if we think that it is beneficial to us. We must have the right to self determination. This means the right to join or separate from others."
This is an emotive issue which has divided Marxists for a very long time-dating back to Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg and others. It has been examined by Africans like Cabral, Abdul Rahman Mohamed Babu, the South Africans, the Eritreans, the Ethiopians, the Ugandans and others.
How do we tackle it in Kenya today?
Do we embrace secession, as some people are doing right now?
Do we employ seemingly “nationalistic” arguments and champion the integrity of what we call Kenya?
In my humble opinion, I suggest that we seek a third way by adopting an internationalist path.
What do I mean?
I have argued vociferously against resorting to what I called “Kabilastans”.
I still stand by that recently expressed opinion.
But I get worried when the people talking of “national unity” and “Kenyan territorial integrity” turn out to be the most hateful supporters of electoral theft, tribalism and corruption in Kenya today. I get queasy when they reach out and embrace me with their blood stained hands. I have nothing in common with choir members who sing the “tyranny of numbers” tune or who preach to me to “accept and move on” from the brutal police slaying of children and other innocent civilians to justify grand electronic larceny otherwise known as computer generated election victories.
My democratic conscience militates against such unprincipled collusion with the Jubilee robbers of 2017.
But at the same time I dissociate myself from the Kabilastan secessionists, where does Onyango Oloo stand?
Am I guilty if I I am accused of being a shameless opportunist?
Not at all.
The only “crime” to which I will plead guilty is being a consistent INTERNATIONATIONALIST who is guided by Marxism-Leninism.
Perhaps I should explain my position further.
Number one: Kenya is a neo-colonial prison which has been misruled by comprador criminals for almost sixty years. Since the time of KANU under Jomo Kenyatta followed by the Moi dictatorship, followed by ten years under Kibaki and PNU and now the Jubilee regime embarking on its second season of misgovernance-the vast majority of people in this country have been repressed and exploited by comprador overlords acting to maintain imperialist rule in Kenya whether they partner with the British, the Americans, the Europeans or of late the Chinese. The ruling clique has used the fig leaf of periodic elections to maintain power even as they steal some more.
Clearly, this is unacceptable.
There is a geographical,political, historical and socio-economic and cultural entity in East Africa known as “Kenya” which has a flag, a national anthem, an armed forces, some state institutions, a central bank, some radio and television stations some intemet and a couple of telecommunication companies. It has produced world beating athletes and produced well known writers, scholars and other personages.
But this neo-colonial entity is a maximum security prison for majority of its so called “citizens” whether they are Muslims, or this or that religion, tribe or region.
I have listened to people like Chris Kumekucha, Okoth Osewe, Jakasangwa and other myriad voices on Facebook and social media make strong cases for “secession”.
Their arguments can’t be dismissed willy nilly because like they puncture the Jubilee generated myths that secession has to be violent and they give examples of places like Norway, Slovenia and Somaliland who have broken away without bloodshed.
But I am not yet sold 100% on secession.
I have a very big IF.
We are on the same page if we are talking about “self-determination”.
I too assert that Kenya is a colonial and neo-colonial construct.
I also conclude that this neo-colonial fiction misnamed “Kenya” must be transcended by something BETTER.
This is where I part company with those calling for secession.
Some of my readers are confused.
Why I ask.
Because some people juxtapose the “nationalist” argument of “an indivisible, united Kenya proud of its territorial integrity” with the notion of “cessation".
But that is not what Onyango Oloo stands for.
I can say today, being the 27th of August 2017 that IF THE PROPOSED PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF KENYA IS A TRANSTIONAL PHASE TO SOMETHING HIGHER THEN I SUPPORT THE NOTION.
In other words, if those calling for a sub-division of Kenya have visions of a GREATER EAST AFRICAN and INTERNATIONALIST VISION then they should sign up Onyango Oloo as one of the foot soldiers.
If we are breaking away from the neo-colonial penitentiary known as the “Republic of Kenya” to pursue common bonds with Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somaliland and other African countries, then I am all for it.
If we are going to agitate for the creation of a new Eastern African Community which is not just another SADC or ECOWAS then count me in.
Otherwise, leave me out of any Kabilastan pipe dreams.
ADVANCE WARNING:
Many readers of my digital essays may be taken aback by this particular one.
In a previous contribution, posted and distributed online just a few days ago, I looked at the debate on secession in Kenya. My views were squarely against the whole idea of separating from Kenya. In fact, my very last three paragraphs were contained in the following paragraphs:
“The problem in Kenya is political and ideological. We must confront the vestiges of orthodox colonialism, the stubborn survival of neo-colonialism and the legacy of the KANU dictatorship. The issues of poverty and unemployment afflicts the ordinary person whether they are Luo, or Gikuyu, Luhyias or Kipsigis, Somali or Tharaka, Kisii or Kamba.
“Devolution has taught us that Turkana can catch up to Nyeri and Mandera can surpass Migori.
“What we need in Kenya is more democracy, more justice, greater equality whether one is talking about region, tribe, religion, age, gender, and sexual orientation or ability/disability issues.
“At a time when people in East Africa are dreaming of a regional community and those in Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, Burkina Faso and Seychelles are forging transcontinental bonds to create a Pan African government surely it is a step backwards for some Kenyans to be speculating about dividing Kenya into a bunch of Kabilastans.”
This is what I, Onyango Oloo said just a few days ago.
But I have been taking another look at the subject.
Am I being spineless, flip flopping?
My friend and ideological mentor, Professor Gumbe, who by training is an engineer, and ideologically a Marxist-Leninist in a Facebook response to my comrade Josiah Omotto, reminded all of us about what Lenin said about the subject over a century ago.
What peaked my interest is when Professor Gumbe approached the matter from the angle of “self-determination.”
This is what he said:
“States and nations are transient in history. Few biblical times nations and states exist today.
“Nations have a right to live in states as they deem fit. Kisiis, Luos, Luhyias have a right to live in Kenya or join or form any other state.
"Pan Africanism only makes sense if it benefits us directly. A larger unit like the British Empire did not favour us at all. We opted for independence. So, we can only join a larger union if we think that it is beneficial to us. We must have the right to self determination. This means the right to join or separate from others."
This is an emotive issue which has divided Marxists for a very long time-dating back to Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg and others. It has been examined by Africans like Cabral, Abdul Rahman Mohamed Babu, the South Africans, the Eritreans, the Ethiopians, the Ugandans and others.
How do we tackle it in Kenya today?
Do we embrace secession, as some people are doing right now?
Do we employ seemingly “nationalistic” arguments and champion the integrity of what we call Kenya?
In my humble opinion, I suggest that we seek a third way by adopting an internationalist path.
What do I mean?
I have argued vociferously against resorting to what I called “Kabilastans”.
I still stand by that recently expressed opinion.
But I get worried when the people talking of “national unity” and “Kenyan territorial integrity” turn out to be the most hateful supporters of electoral theft, tribalism and corruption in Kenya today. I get queasy when they reach out and embrace me with their blood stained hands. I have nothing in common with choir members who sing the “tyranny of numbers” tune or who preach to me to “accept and move on” from the brutal police slaying of children and other innocent civilians to justify grand electronic larceny otherwise known as computer generated election victories.
My democratic conscience militates against such unprincipled collusion with the Jubilee robbers of 2017.
But at the same time I dissociate myself from the Kabilastan secessionists, where does Onyango Oloo stand?
Am I guilty if I I am accused of being a shameless opportunist?
Not at all.
The only “crime” to which I will plead guilty is being a consistent INTERNATIONATIONALIST who is guided by Marxism-Leninism.
Perhaps I should explain my position further.
Number one: Kenya is a neo-colonial prison which has been misruled by comprador criminals for almost sixty years. Since the time of KANU under Jomo Kenyatta followed by the Moi dictatorship, followed by ten years under Kibaki and PNU and now the Jubilee regime embarking on its second season of misgovernance-the vast majority of people in this country have been repressed and exploited by comprador overlords acting to maintain imperialist rule in Kenya whether they partner with the British, the Americans, the Europeans or of late the Chinese. The ruling clique has used the fig leaf of periodic elections to maintain power even as they steal some more.
Clearly, this is unacceptable.
There is a geographical,political, historical and socio-economic and cultural entity in East Africa known as “Kenya” which has a flag, a national anthem, an armed forces, some state institutions, a central bank, some radio and television stations some intemet and a couple of telecommunication companies. It has produced world beating athletes and produced well known writers, scholars and other personages.
But this neo-colonial entity is a maximum security prison for majority of its so called “citizens” whether they are Muslims, or this or that religion, tribe or region.
I have listened to people like Chris Kumekucha, Okoth Osewe, Jakasangwa and other myriad voices on Facebook and social media make strong cases for “secession”.
Their arguments can’t be dismissed willy nilly because like they puncture the Jubilee generated myths that secession has to be violent and they give examples of places like Norway, Slovenia and Somaliland who have broken away without bloodshed.
But I am not yet sold 100% on secession.
I have a very big IF.
We are on the same page if we are talking about “self-determination”.
I too assert that Kenya is a colonial and neo-colonial construct.
I also conclude that this neo-colonial fiction misnamed “Kenya” must be transcended by something BETTER.
This is where I part company with those calling for secession.
Some of my readers are confused.
Why I ask.
Because some people juxtapose the “nationalist” argument of “an indivisible, united Kenya proud of its territorial integrity” with the notion of “cessation".
But that is not what Onyango Oloo stands for.
I can say today, being the 27th of August 2017 that IF THE PROPOSED PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF KENYA IS A TRANSTIONAL PHASE TO SOMETHING HIGHER THEN I SUPPORT THE NOTION.
In other words, if those calling for a sub-division of Kenya have visions of a GREATER EAST AFRICAN and INTERNATIONALIST VISION then they should sign up Onyango Oloo as one of the foot soldiers.
If we are breaking away from the neo-colonial penitentiary known as the “Republic of Kenya” to pursue common bonds with Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somaliland and other African countries, then I am all for it.
If we are going to agitate for the creation of a new Eastern African Community which is not just another SADC or ECOWAS then count me in.
Otherwise, leave me out of any Kabilastan pipe dreams.