July 5, 2024
Statement from the Central Organising Committee of the Communist Party of Kenya
Fellow Kenyans,
The time has come for us to complete the mission we began with our protests. William Ruto and his regime, along with their local collaborators and international financiers, have shown their true colours. They promise reform but deliver nothing of substance. Let us be clear: Ruto will not change unless we force him to.
This illegitimate government, birthed from fraud, tribal mobilisation, and the dirty money of global organised crime, cannot be allowed to stand. The recent protests have illuminated the widespread discontent among our people, stemming from decades of socio-economic and political oppression. Ruto's reign is a continuation of this legacy, where the wealth of our nation is siphoned off by a select few at the expense of the majority.
Kenya's history is one of relentless struggle and sacrifice. From the fight for independence led by the Mau Mau, to the battle for multipartism, and the ousting of Moi's dictatorship, our victories have always been hard-won. These achievements were not handed to us by the ruling class; they were claimed through the blood, sweat, and determination of countless patriots. Today, our struggle continues.
The recent wave of protests against the anti-poor People 2024 Finance Bill united Kenyans across ethnic, gender, and age lines in a manner not seen in decades. We have seen our comrades brutalised, arrested, and offices raided, yet our resolve has only strengthened. We are conscious of our noble history of resistance against foreign domination and imperialism.
In this struggle, we mourn the loss of over 49 comrades who were martyred by the criminal police force and government militias. We offer our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. Their sacrifices will not be in vain. The government's overemphasis on property destruction, rather than the precious lives lost, is a gross injustice. Let it be known: any blood that continues to flow in the streets is on the hands of President Ruto and his foreign backers. Any property destruction should be paid for by the president and the members of parliament who voted 'yes' to the Finance Bill. They had a real opportunity to reject this oppressive bill, but they squandered it until the Kenyan masses forced their hand. We shall not bear the consequences of their greed and incompetence.
Ruto’s past as a leader of the most lethal right-wing militia, Youth for KANU (YK92), under the dictatorship of President Moi, should not be forgotten. The atrocities committed by this militia are yet to be fully revealed, but they mark a dark chapter in our history. Ruto’s role in that oppressive regime underscores his unfitness to lead our nation.
These protests were not merely about an imposed IMF finance bill; they were a potent manifestation of the deep-seated inequalities that plague Kenya. Millions of our people languish in abject poverty, while a stinking corrupt elite flaunts their ill-gotten wealth with shameless opulence. The menace of landlessness and the squatter problem is the next ticking time bomb that shall inevitably explode, consuming the Kenyan ruling class in its wake.
Our task is to defeat the current demobilisation by this corrupt regime. The window-dressing exercise being carried out by dictator Ruto will not change the lives of the majority. We are yet to see any heads rolling or any radical changes in utmost good faith. The corrupt gangs still have proximity to power. The Members of Parliament have not started any process to return public trust. We are yet to see any MP, especially those that voted 'yes,' start a process to impeach the president.
People like Kindiki and Duale, who appeared on TV to try and play cheap politics with our lives, drive believable lies that the protests were an act of malice by those who didn’t want Ruto as president. Let them continue inciting more public anger. The youth want jobs, food, housing, and basic life necessities to live a life of dignity, not silly rants from corrupt politicians helping themselves from public coffers. People need accountability, respect, and transparency in governance. These are very rational demands. The Kenyan people are crying loudly that they want a sovereign country, not to be ruled by dogs of great powers. They are crying for a pro-people regime change that shall raise the glorious flag of Kenya, soaked in the blood of martyrs, to greater heights.
We must identify our primary enemy: Ruto and the corrupt elite who serve as proxies for global imperialist forces. These billionaires produce nothing and exploit everything. They seek to auction off our nation's resources while maintaining their privileged status through exploitation. Our rallying cry must be clear: RUTO MUST GO.
Our immediate task is to build the highest level of organisation with the best leaders to govern a post-Ruto Kenya. We must counter the narrative that the people in the streets are leaderless, tribeless, and anarchists. We are indeed tribeless, as tribes have been used by the elite to divide us. We are partyless, as the bourgeois political parties have betrayed us. We are leaderless because we reject corrupt leaders who serve foreign interests.
Our campaign must clarify that the masses demand genuine, people-centric leadership. We must lay the groundwork for a formidable pro-poor-people organisation with selfless leaders. This effort must go hand in hand with ongoing political protests and activities. We must deflate government propaganda that misrepresents our movement and its aims.
Kenya's future belongs to its people, not to a corrupt elite. Let us unite and fight for our rights, our land, and our dignity. The time for change is now. We must finish what we started and ensure that Kenyan decisions are made by Kenyans, free from external interference.
Forward to victory!
Homeland or Death!
It’s either Kenya for all, or Kenya for none!
Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of Kenya