Introduction

The history, ideology, and profile of the Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) - which has developed progressively since 1992,- are found in the documents of the party registered with the Registrar of Political Parties of Kenya in line with the Constitution of Kenya (2010) and the laws thereof. The documents can be accessed on the party website (communistpartyofkenya.org). Hard copies can be obtained from the Party headquarters in Nairobi. 

CPK participated actively in the struggle for the progressive reforms that are summarised in the national Constitution of Kenya 2010. We were involved in the debates of the Constitution making conference debates at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi between 2003 and 2005 and fought for the inclusion of the progressive articles in the constitution that include article 10 on the national values and principles of governance that also forms the summary of the minimum program of CPK.  

The national values and principles of governance include patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy and participation of the people; human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination, and protection of the marginalized; good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability; and sustainable development.

Despite the existence of the Constitution, the political parties and coalitions of the ruling class of Kenya today that form the Executive, are united in their selfish conspiracy to kill other political parties in Kenya so that they remain the only political parties and so that together they can dominate and manipulate the politics of the country to fit their common ideology of capitalism/neoliberalism. They grab and share only among themselves the millions of shillings of public money meant to fund political parties to nurture democracy in the country. In all this, they count on the support of imperialist governments and pro-capitalist local and foreign NGOs operating in the country, and that purport to support and teach Kenyans about democracy and human rights. 

The political parties, coalitions, and organisations that dominate the country's parliament today all worship bourgeoisie democracy as it is practiced in the USA, United Kingdom, Western Europe, and Japan. They regard bourgeoisie democracy to be the Alfa and Omega of democracy. Yet in the United States that pretends to be the most democratic country in the World, left political parties are suppressed, and the citizens are forced to choose to be governed by either the Republican or Democratic parties, both of which are capitalist and imperialist in ideology and practice. Similarly, in the UK, all political parties are suppressed, and the citizens have to choose from the Labour, Conservative or Liberal Democrats parties - all of which represent capitalism and imperialism. The aim of this is to use the political parties to conserve the democracy of the ruling capitalist classes and to use it to dilute class struggles by creating illusions of political changes through regular elections that ensure the capitalist and imperialist system remains intact. This is the democracy Kenya's ruling class and their partners are importing for Kenya and that CPK rejects and struggles against. It is not the democracy the Kenyan masses wish and aspire for as the spirit of the constitution of Kenya manifestly reveals.

The truth is that the political parties of the ruling class of Kenya and their affiliates are both committed to imposing the democracy of capitalism, neocolonialism, corruption, tribalism, cronyism, greed, primitive accumulation, dictatorship, and exploitation of person by person in the country. 

CPK is sure that the democracy of the ruling capitalist class is not what the majority of Kenyans struggled for or desire for the present and future of our country. To struggle for genuine democracy - participatory democracy - social and national liberation - today also means to struggle against the status quo represented by the two political parties, their political affiliations, ideology, and what they represent. 

CPK is committed to organizing and struggling for political power through participating in national elections to provide to the Kenyan people alternative social, political, and economic policies away from the present status quo and geared towards socialism. 

Summary of the Minimum Program of CPK

1. Creating enabling conditions for sustainable development of providing social security for all Kenyans by first building a three-tire democratic and complementary economic system composed of the state, cooperative and private sectors.  

2.     Struggling to liberate the economy, politics, and international trade relations of the country from neo-colonialism and imperialism.

3.     Working to defend and consolidate the progressive political reforms and democratic gains won by the struggle of the people, and that are embodied in the Constitution of Kenya. In this regard, we will collaborate with other progressive Kenyans, parties, civil society organisations, and movements to struggle for the realization of the basic tenets of the constitution on the sovereignty of the people, human rights, national values and principles of governance, separation of powers, checks and balances and devolution of governments with popular participation of the people at all levels of government.

4.  Implementing development policies and strategies that aim at providing - progressively - basic needs and services for individuals and families such as security to a person, shelter, food, water, health, education, and employment and that are also entrenched in the Constitution of Kenya.

5.     Reinstating the freedom and sovereignty of our country, people, and resources rather than surrendering our nation to neo-colonialism and imperialism.

6.     Fostering partnership with the Kenyan people and friendly nations and people for the ownership and provision of services by the commanding heights of the economy, including money/banks/financial institutions, transport and communications and infrastructure, major natural water towers and waterworks, power generation.

7.     Engaging in the most suitable technologies available in the provision of services and implementation of development and maintenance of projects. We need not invent the wheel; we need only adopt it and make it work for our purposes. 

8.     Mobilizing and facilitating Kenyans to conserve, protect, develop, and utilize our natural resources and environment sustainably for the present and future generations of Kenyans. We will make and implement policies that will ensure investment in natural resources brings direct and indirect benefits to the local communities as envisioned by the Constitution of Kenya. 

9.     Providing public-funded universal and compulsory primary and secondary education as a first stage. CPK will also provide high-quality, affordable, and subsidized college and university education, with the ultimate objective of making education free at all levels. At the same time, we will mobilize Kenyans to formulate an education and cultural policy that aims at eradicating illiteracy, poverty, and underdevelopment while producing conscious, creative, and independent social beings capable of realizing their talents, knowledge, and skills in the service of the nation, society, and humanity. 

10.   Implementing policies of fighting tribalism and of building national cohesion. We will mobilize Kenyans to celebrate their rich cultural and linguistic diversity in the interest of national unity and social progress. We will develop the national and official languages of Kenya as well as those of the various Kenyan nationalities.

11.  Implementing, in words and deeds, policies of combatting and eradicating corruption and misuse of public resources. 

12.  Adopting a class and gender approach to development in all spheres of life.

13.  Implementing vigorously chapter eleven of the Constitution of Kenya to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas, to lead to equality between the various regions and Counties of Kenya. 

14.  Carrying out progressive land and agrarian reforms based mainly on land use for sustainable land and land resources use for national development and on the principle of land to the and for the tillers.

15.  Carrying out a progressive national defense policy to ensure human and national security and the elimination of terrorism and imperialist military bases in the country.

16.  Implementing an independent foreign policy based on peace, solidarity, friendship, mutual respect, and reciprocity with all nations and peoples of the world while adhering to the principle of the right of all nations to self - determination and socialist internationalism. This also includes the realization of the East African Federation as fast as possible together with a progressive Pan - Africanist African Union. 

MAXIMUM PROGRAM OF CPK

CPK is a Marxist/Leninist party whose ultimate program is to achieve socialism in Kenya, East Africa, Africa, and the World. The strategies and tactics of achieving this objective are based on the historical and material conditions of Kenya and the World today.