Saba Saba Heroes: Kenyans who became bridges to 2nd Republic

Selfless Kenyan heroes celebrated during this week of Saba Saba 19th Anniversary

Updated: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Story By: MEEME JOSHUA (Part 1)

A country that forgets its history, has no business planning its future. This is why in my two-part series, am revisiting history to celebrate selfless Kenyan heroes who fought autocratic Kanu regime for the freedom that, we as Kenyans, are enjoying today. It is through the blood of those who lost their lives and others maimed during the Saba Saba riots, that formed the basis for political pluralism and democracy we are now enjoying.

During this time Kanu was 'baba na mama'. However, Kenyans were jilted by blatant rigging of elections in 1988 through the infamous queuing (mlolongo) system. It was a time when Kanu party rebels were being excommunicated. These actions by the Moi government caused furore among the public. Later the following year, then US President George Bush (senior) appointed former Washington Times Newspaper chief executive Smith Hempstone as the new ambassador to Kenya. Owing to his journalistic background, Hempstone was a strong critic of corruption and single party system of government. Ironically, then British High Commissioner Sir Roger Tomkys defended Moi regime against riotous Hempstone. Hempstone was a diplomat with journalistic mien and could not be silenced. During this time, Moi enjoyed cordial relationship with then British PM Margaret Thatcher. With the fall of Soviet Union and the end of Cold War, Kenya was at the mercy of US and donor community. Push for pluralism intensified. Hempstone's opposition of Kanu government earned him tongue lashing from Kanu hawks including Joseph Kamotho, Oloo Aringo, Sharrif Nassir and Mulu Mutisya.

On February 13, 1990, then Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Ouko died under mysterious circumstances. This fueled public dissent. It was in December 1990 when a commission led by then Vice President George Saitoti with its members among them President Mwai Kibaki, recommended overhaul of modus operandi of Kanu including cessation of excommunication of Kanu dissidents and abandonment of queuing system.

Then Editor of Nairobi Law Monthly Gitobu Imanyara filed an application in the High Court questioning the constitutionality of 1982 amendment to make Kenya de jure one party state. This case was to be heard before Justice Sir Norbury Dugdale (British Citizen). There was no chance of success in the case as the judge had made other conservative rulings in favor of Kanu dictatorial regime, among them dismissing Prof Wangari Maathai opposition of building of Kanu headquarters at Uhuru Park and denying Alexander Arap Muge's widow request to have a public inquest into her husband's death.

At this time Jan 1991, Raila, kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia were still in detention and voices of reason were scattered among them aging Jaramogi Oginga, Masinde Muliro and Martin Shikuku. It was at Chester House along Koinange Street where doyen of politics Jaramogi and other anti-Kanu figures coalesced to make an announcement. This time was formation of a political party National Democratic Party in defiance of Section 2A of the then constitution. In a press conference attended by international media, Jaramogi cited 1982 constitutional amendment, as an infringement of fundamental human rights of association as enshrined in the Constitution. It was one of the haphazard amendments that made the Constitution look like patchwork of draconian laws. However, Kenyan media shied from reporting, fearing reprisals from Kanu Special Branch officers.

When Nairobi Law Monthly wrote a commentary about the party three days later, its Editor Gitobu Imanyara was arrested and copies of the magazine confiscated by government forces. Gitobu was charged with publishing 'seditious attack' on the government. This however did not silence this firebrand politicians from Meru.

Lawyer Paul Muite was elected in March 1991 as chairman Law Society of Kenya. Muite's activism helped clamour for change with more courageous and fearless voices. April 1991, Rubia was released from jail and headed straight to Nairobi Hospital for treatment. On May 1991, Jaramogi was arrested and arms planted in his home in Bondo to prove allegations by Assistant minister in the Office of the President John Keen, that he (Oginga) had planned to overthrow Kenyatta government in the 60s and was planning to do the same to Moi government. On June 9, 1991, Matiba was released from detention and went to hospital in England where he stayed for one year after suffering stroke in prison. Two weeks later, Raila was also released from prison. All these people were on detention without trial; a strong violation of human right. More of them were severely tortured while in detention.

In May 1991, a British politician David Steel invited LSK chairman Paul Muite and firebrand politicians-cum-lawyer James Orengo for a dinner. It was during this dinner that Steel suggested that their effort to register NDP could not materialize and they needed to change strategy. Buoyed by 'Velvet Revolution' in Czechoslovakia, Orengo suggested formation of a movement that could be registered under Societies Act. The movement was to be be called Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD).

A group coded named 'Young Turks' including Orengo, Japheth Shamalla, Muite, Imanyara and Raila convened a flurry of secret meetings for preparations of what they called a church meeting. The meeting was expected to held at CPK (Church of Province of Kenya), All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi. Young Turks were fiery but church leaders developed cold feet owing to intimidation from the government.

Later, this group of 'Young Turks' approached politicians with the idea that if they registered the movement it could have been easier to carry their campaign. Each province was to be represented by one politician in FORD. To join the bandwagon was Jaramogi Oginga (Nyanza), Phillip Gachoka (Central), Masinde Muliro (Rift Valley), Ahmed Bamarhiz (Coast), George Nthenge (Eastern) and Martin Shikuku (western). Nairobi and North Eastern was not represented. Nairobi slot was expected to be taken by Matiba who was still in hospital. North Eastern's Ahmed Khalif was expected to represented the province but later changed his mind.

On July 4, 1991 Jaramogi Oginga announced formation of FORD. (To be continued)

Email: joshmemento@yahoo.com