The K.A.N.U. Manifesto

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JQ 2947 .A98 K3839

University of Virginia Library JQ2947.A98 K3839 ALD The K.A.N.U. manifesto.

CX 000 040 609

UNIVERSITY OF VIRO ib TANTA

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DA - 3244 9 L

THE K.A.N.U. MANIFESTO

KENYATTA

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JOMO

JQ 2947

K 3839 A982

N.B. - After considerable discussion within the Kenya African

National Union , this political manifesto was presented to the public at a mass rally of 100,000 people at Thika, Kenya on 20th November, 1960.

DAR EL -HANA Press

Cairo .

Independence And Unity The very first aim of the Kenya African National Union is to fight relentlessly to achieve and maintain independence for the people of Kenya . On this hang all the other aims and objects of

the union ; for without freedom and independence from imperialist rule and exploitation our ideal to reconstruct Kenya a country free from oppression, and a home free from hunger, sickness and ignorance will never be realised. The welfare of our people, their

standard of living, wealth and health, education and culture can not be treated with priority by the imperialists. The part the people of Kenya must play in the present day world in working for peace and development of mankind remains undone due to a power which refuses to allow them their full human stature with the right to self-determination. Independence , which alone can assure us our rightful place in the world must, therefore, be re gained.

It is a misnomer to say that Kenya is fighting to “ gain ” her independence or that Britain would " give” the people of Kenya freedom . Our freedom and independence was taken from us by forces which cannot but be termed violent.

We shall, without

any further delay regain it . This we shall do by means more civilised and non - violent. K.A.N.U. , in dedicating itself to the accomplishment of this task becomes more than an ordinary poli tical party. It is a national movement vis-a - vis the British Gov

ernment, the Colonial power ruling Kenya. K.A.N.U., as a na tional movement, is something crystallised out of the feelings, wishes and demands of the people of Kenya. It is the manifesta tion of their nationalistic feeling, and the embodiment of their

patriotism .

K.A.N.U. is the 'vanguard under whose banner the

poor, the sick , the illiterate, who go to form the majority of the

indigenous community of Kenya, must rally to regain their inde pendence and freedom from social, political and economical domi

nation by those vested interests which are founded in imperialism and colonialism . K.A.N.U.'s main goal , as a national movement, is independence NOW . -1

Background One must look elsewhere for a detailed history of the poli

tical struggle of the African people in Kenya. Suffice it to say here that it has been long and vigorous enough to with stand the repression of the rulers.

Kenya's troubled political development has mostly been made in response to the efforts made to secure an adjustment of claims

made by the other racial groups in the Colony, to share in institu tions in which the European community had at an early date secured precedence. The approach to constitutional advance ment, even by the African, had , till recently , been reformist . What has been agitated for was democratisation of the Govern

ment which the European oligarchy dominated . By conferences, resolutions and faith in human government to perialist system

other constitutional methods, and probably with fair -play and justice, the African waited for self come by mere reformation of the existing im . He was disillusioned. Under the banner of

K.A.N.U., no approach which compromises the right of self determination of the African people can be resorted to .

The European community made claims to self-government as early as 1913. By this move , they wanted effectively to con firm the dominant position they occupied in the Administration. It was during that time and a little later that there was a move the European minorities in these territories worked hard for the idea so that their do

to federate East and Central Africa

minant position would remain for ever.

Their aim was the

creation of a replica of South Africa extending from the Limpopo in the South up to the borders of Ethiopia . This incarnation of madness was resisted by African public opinion and was rejected by the British Government of the day . At the same time. in Kenya, the Asian community staked

their claim to political rights and demanded equality with the Europeans. The British Government, anxious to find a means of escape from the embarrassment caused by the Asian claim for the Colonial Government of India had been drawn into the con 2

troversy through pressure from Indian political parties, took the occasion to issue a declaration regarding the paramountcy of African interests.

This was stated in the Devonshire White

Paper of 1923. African interests have, however, never been para mount in Kenya,

The usual aggressive European agitaion for supremacy be came provocative and even wild in 1951. They held strongly to

the view that if there was any increase in African representation in the Legislative Council, steps should be taken to preserve the

numerical parity of the European members with the repre sentatives of all the other communities put together.

During

the Emergency, declared in 1952, their agitation took a more militant form . They clamoured for, among other things, free dom from Colonial Office and at the alter of this freedom they wanted to sacrifice African nationalism .

The plum almost fell

into their basket !

In 1954 the Secretary of State , Mr. Lyttleton, visited troubled Kenya and declared changes that were designed to establish a " multi-racial nation . For the first time the theory of European

domination was exploded and the principle of partnership between the racial groups proclaimed. This was the basis of the now dead and buried Lyttleton and LennoxBoyd Constitutions . The absence of African political organisations was exploited to impose this theory as the basis of the future society of Kenya .

In 1956, a

new dynamic African leadership adopted the new look , “ Africa for Africans ” holding that Kenya is an African country. From the policy of European domination , through the vague and un

reliable principle of partnership, to the acceptance of the fact that Kenya was never a “ No Man's Land” but the home of her indigenous people. The British Government now recognised the

fact that the African people's march to realise their cherished goal must be consummated in complete independence. K.A.N.U. stands for nothing less. FORCES AND FORMS BEHIND

THE KENYA NATIONAL MOVEMENT

There have been many land -marks in the great battle against

colonialism and the human injustices which go under the name of imperialism . It will be generally agreed that a most important 3

year is 1905 when Japan defeated Russia in the Russo - Japanese war and proved to the Asian world that the myth of white supre macy could be exploded. This victory was applauded in all the countries of Asia including India whert at that time the national

movement for freedom against British domination was gathering momentum . The Japanese example encouraged the leaders to

embark upon mass non-co -operation and civil disobedience against the rulers in India, until independence was regained in 1947 ; thus the British Crown lost its largest jewel . The Empire on which

the sun never set was declining : colonialism was dying. But the British and other colonial powers who thrive on the same system still held on to the " black ” countries until Ghana broke the chain

of slavery in 1956. All Africa must praise Ghanain nationalism for providing new inspiration throughout Africa. To-day the light of freedom is burning all over Africa , fanned and refuelled

by world opinion .

Colonialism dies hard, but it must to -day

reckon with the African resurgence and determination ,

In Kenya , this resurgence and determination was introduced to the world with a bang when uncontrolled violence broke out in 1952. In many parts of the world to-day the word " Kenya " is

synonymous with the word " Mau Mau ” . Whatever may be said by the settlers or the British Government . Africans believe that the Mau Mau movement was the child of economic , social and

political frustration arising from British rule and white settler domination. Kenya Africans had agitated strongly, for advance ment before the outbreak of Mau Mau . The Kenya African

Union did not leave a stone unturned in the struggle to attain the African people's demands . We cannot deny, however, that a great

impetus was given to the national movement for independence, by the events of and after 1952. The Emergency focussed the attention of the British public and people throughout the world on the plight of the Africans and the problems confronting the country. Kenya was placed on the world map. Freedom loving

people everywhere began to say that force or repression were unlikely to produce a lasting solution .

Confronted with this na

tional awakening, no government in Britain was prepared to dance

to the tune of settler demands. It was realised that the indi genous people of Kenya were not ready to stop at anything to regain their independence.

Injustices in the form of expropriation, racialism , economic exploitation of African workers and peasants, and poor social - 4

services have been , more or less , the forces that go to make up

the Kenya national freedom movement. Kenya has never enjoy

ed a status of social and political order based on justice. It has never been the aim of the ruling power to ensure social, economic or political democracy for the very reason that an imperialist power cannot give priority to the economic and social welfare of those they rule. Kenya's indigenous people must win inde pendence for their own good. Thus the forces behind the national movement have taken different and several forms .

Conferences have been held , reso

lutions passed and delegations sent to England. No one remains blind to the fact that all these have resulted in some reforms

but failed to meet the full aspirations of the people. In fact , the servants of the ruling power have always announced that the situation was under " complete control” , thereby showing that

any advancement was being conceded merely at the sweet wil! of Britain .

K.A.N.U. believes that independence has never been handed over by any imperialist power on a silver platter. It is won : and

this is because it was never lost voluntarily. Equally important is the fact that independence will never be won by mere journeys to Britain or elsewhere but by sweat and toil here in Kenya . K.A.N.U. will always be dynamic, it will ask the people of Kenya to " do and sacrifice" until the cherished freedom we demand

trickles from the imperialist hands . The form of any independ ence movement must be dynamic ; it must make it difficult or

impossible for the imperialist power to continue its government. WHY K.A.N.U. MUST BE THE VANGUARD OF THE MOVEMENT

All Africans must sink their differences , personal or other wise, so that a united front is forged . A new effort on the part

of all must be set in motion so that mere personality differences must not stand in the way of independence . K.A.N.U. as a na tional movement , as something more than a mere political party , has but one goal , the goal of all Africans - independence. Parties may be necessary for the working of a dernocracy : but parties are not necessary in the fight for freedom . And if K.A.N.U. claims to be the vanguard of the freedom movement, it is be cause its formation was participated in by all African leaders and -

5

- Jomo Kenyatta --- sup ports it . At the Lancaster House Conference, the Government

also because the father of our nation

acceeded to the demands of the African people to form a country

wide political organisation.

At the same Conference it was

possible for the African elected members to sink their differences

in the greater interests of the country and to form a united front. It was decided in London that on return to Kenya a country wide political organisation be launched . It was recognised that.

provided there was a genuine desire to work for unity and pro gress , there were no insuperable obstacles in the task of organi ing a nationwide political movement. When the leaders met to

decide on the name of the party, 12 members of the Legislative Council including some now outside K.A.N.U., were present. The disunity which followed is then despite the fact that the present

dissidents appended their signatures to the document that re corded the birth of K.A.N.U. as the national organisation and

the front for the fight for independence. It is not yet too late to unite ; a progressive nation cannot be founded on communal

or tribal differences and separatist tendencies . Disunity will be

an impediment in our struggle for complete independence and economic and social progress . All the above considerations are important, but it must be

said again at the cost of repetition that unity is the most im portant element in our national struggle.

In times of national

emergencies enlightened party leaders and people come together to face the danger as one. The struggle of a colonial people for

freedom and independence constitutes an emergency. It is only by forging a united front that the goal of independence can be attained. Unity now will be the basis of unity after independence when the leaders will be faced with the great task of rebuilding the nation on the lines of progressive policies. Our need is to

be one. Precious energy used in mutual recrimination is wasted energy . K.A.N.U. believes that those fostering disunity among the people on the basis of communalism and personality cult are misdirecting their energies into wrong channels. They are

weakening the nationalist forces. They are delaying independ A united front alone can realise freedom in Kenya. The forces engaged against the African cause are many and strong. Determined unity alone can defeat these reactionary elements

ence .

and clear the path to independence. Independence is yonder : our bridge to it is unity of all the people of Kenya. to be ours.

Victory is certain

The K.A.N.U. Programme INTRODUCTION

We the people of Kenya must work for the speedy re construction of a better nation, raising the standard of living

of our people, their wealth, education and welfare. We must secure for the workers and peasant farmers the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof by ensuring that the means of production distribution and exchange

are under the best obtainable system and administration . Be cause K.A.N.U. is dedicated to the establishment of the above

condiions it shall strive to promote a social and political order based on social , economic and political justice. „No only is it necessary to ensure the attainment of a political democracy, but it will be our constant aim and endeavour to see that the

basic criterion in determining social policy and economic pro gress is the good of the country as a whole and not merely the interests of a few .

The people of Kenya have, in consequence , to make an adjust

ment of the most radical kind.

They have to learn to relate

themselves to an alien civilisation , as other peoples have had to

do, but, owing to the pace at which things move to-day , with greater rapidity. They have to make a complete psychological adjustment to the new tempo demanded by the coming of the machine, electricity, atomic energy and all that follows in their train . Along with these there will also come the iniquitous pur poses to which the results of scientific and technical knowledge can be put and against which we shall have to be on guard . In

spite of all drawbacks and perils the technological foundations of the present world are indispensable for Kenya's advancement since Kenya has no choice but to live in the twentieth century .

Kenyan patriots must dream of the day when their motherland will be producing a galaxy of modern philosophers , scientists, writers and artists who will bring fame to their native land. - 7

It is K.A.N.U.'s contention that the opportunity and freedom

of initiative that is required for the development of philosophy, science and art is impossible under a Colonial system . As it is 1

important to have a healthy mind in a healthy body so is it vital that a free mind should inhabit a free body. The strings of

racialism , poverty and sickness that tie the Africans under Co lonialism must be cut and replaced by those of brotherhood under a free constitution . K.A.N.U. cannot give any better expression to such a status than to say that it pledges itself to undiluted democracy. K.A.N.U. pledges itself to ensure the fundamenta ! freedoms.

Freedom from fear, hunger , ignorance, illness and freedom from fear of being sacked from employment; protected from unremunerative long hours of work ; assured of a minimum wage

which can accord him clothing for himself and his family, decent food , education for his children , a little comfort and leisure. For without decent housing, and reasonable employment, a minimum wage which will ensure the pursuit of happiness, no one can

really claim that he is free . Fundamental freedoms must include all the above and others which will make up the conditions under

which a citizen may realize his true self . In every state the de mands of each citizen for the fulfilment of his true self must be

taken as of equal worth ; and freedom from hunger, from un employment, and illiteracy should be guaranteed to all citizens alike. Before citizen “ E ” has twenty rooms to protect him from rain, citizen “ A ” must have a shelter, and before the “ Mem -sahib ” can pride herself on living on cakes , the Ayah must be assured of bread.

But we realize that fundamental freedoms do not merely entail being free from restrictions. Fundamental freedoms are positive things. They are at the same time social. If by any chance one's actions should concern others, then one's freedom

must be hedged with restrictions , This is freedom within the law '.

Do these freedoms come within the concept of " undiluted

Democracy ” ? The answer can be neither here nor there, for the mere fact that the term " undiluted democracy ” is illusive and difficult of definition ! Does K.A.N.U. intend to go back to " the - 8

rule by all except women and slaves" which was the Greek demo cracy ? They believed that some men are born slaves yet their

social setup and government has been considered democratic. Or are we to adopt the " government by the rich, of the very rich,

for all” , as practised in some modern so -called democracies. Democracy, then, is something which must grow and in growth be endemic to the soil in which it develops, it is not something defined, cut and dried , in vacuo ; it is of the people and therefore for that very fact must be stamped and characterised by the

people's way of thought and life. In Kenya and Africa, demo cracy must manifest the African personality and all that goes to make the African . Because democracy is applicable, it is also adaptable. ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION

K.A.N.U. shall work for the speedy economic reconstruction

of Kenya . Very broadly , there are to-day, three main ways of organising the economic side of the social system in advanced countries. The first of these is capitalism or private enterprise ; the second is socialism based on public enterprise and involving the planned organisation of production and distribution in ac

cordance with conceptions of social benefit and justice. The third is a mixed system where the private and the public sectors share in the economic field with a more limited form of planning extending over both . Planning in this context means that the interest of the community has to be placed before anything else ;

these interests have to be predetermined , as for example, the need for more schools , hospitals , education institutions , food , shelter and clothes to wear. In the formulation , the interest of

the individual plays the major role though Government authority is required to bring harmony. Planned economy embodies a

certain order of priorities, which the economic activity of the country has to achieve.

Priorities cannot rationally be decided

hy the capitalist's search for profit. In other words planning takes into account the development of the country. Planning is furthermore aa mechanism for co-ordinating economic decisions and thus avoiding unnecessary fluctuations in prices , output and investment .

Against this , we have private enterprise, in which the motive of production is private profit. The advocates of this theory - 9 -

persuaded people and still persuade people that if each man pursued his self-interest in economic matters the result would be for the good of all. But it was not long before this doctrine

made paupers out of workers, driving them to live in crowded slums, making them toil for long unremunerative hours without leisure , employing women and children. In a nutshell, the hunt for profit created such disharmony, suffering, fear of being sacked and fear of hunger that governments had and still have to step

in to ensure that society's interests govern production and distri bution of the factors of production .

K.A.N.U. wants to ensure that the means of production , distribution and exchange are under the best obtainable system

and administration consistent with all the real interests of the country. After long years of domination Kenya wins freedom not to let her children suffer again because of bad conditions of employment, or because of want of accommodation, or from disease, malnutrition , illiteracy and the like , but to lead them

into a world of plenty , equality. liberty and brotherhood. Planning can be done in many ways depending on the theory of social reconstruction a people believes in.. There is demo cratic planning. This is the sort of planning which must come by means of parliamentary democracy . It must include the greatest possible element of consent.

This is the planning that

would allow the people of Kenya their fundamental freedoms. K.A.N.U. in adopting planned economy pledges itself to ensure the good of all the people of Kenya . An under -developed country like ours has no choice but to follow the path of planned economy. The state under its constitution must lead society towards

the good of all. In guiding the state K.A.N.U. will ask the people of Kenya to contribute each according to his ability.

LAND By far the largest proportion of the African people earn their living from the land. In fact land has been a very big bone of contention in Kenya's political history. Owing to historical events,

what should have been a purely economic question became the field of a political battle. Even to -day, a section of people in Kenya would go to any extent to use the land question, in the 10

form of assurances of titles etc. , as a stick with which to beat the

African leader on his path to freedom . K.A.N.U. holds strongly

that such tactics on the part of anyone, including the Colonial Office, would be viewed by the African people as an impediment to independence. Reforms that are necessary for the develop

ment of Kenya into a prosperous welfare state must be left to the untied hands of the future free government.

At the same time no ones eyes should be closed to the fact that large sections of the African people lost their land which was turned into Crown land and the so - called White Highlands. Commission after Commission visited this country to look into

the grievances about land ; and despite the fact that such grievances were genuine and glaring these commissions clothed their reports in such vague terms that they never resuited in the necessary revolution in land tenure in Kenya . Many of these reports , in fact , maligned the African case, labouring to make the world believe that the African has been suffering from self

deception. The result is the great hunger for land to-day, whilst in the so - called White Highlands and Crown Lands large areas lie fallow for the benefit of future white settlers . Even to-day there are strongly disputed areas which must receive attention. Resettlement will, then , be K.A.N.U.'s foremost problem : re

settlement not at the cost of the high standard of agriculture already attained , but definitely at the expense of absentee land lordism , of individuals owning large square miles while neigh bouring African people jostle in small areas . Resettlement in those parts of the country which remain unused due to the present Govyernment policy of protecting settler interests or its inability

to launch development schemes for the improvement of dry areas or those infested with tse tse fly . In this resettlement the squatter problem will be faced . The

position of the squatter in the highlands is deplorable and re sembles that of the exploited serf in feudal Europe. K.A.N.U. cannot allow the people of Kenya to be slaves in their mother

land. And if the eradication of this evil system will mean a com plete revolution of land tenure in the highlands K.A.N.U. de

dicates itself to face the challenge. K.A.N.U. will appoint a com mittee which would look into and work out details or steps to be

taken for the abolition of the squatter system . The committee - 11

would have such terms of reference as would allow it to go into questions of land and agriculture, including the problem of con solidation of land . Consolidation of Land can play an important

role in raising the production of farms. K.A.N.U. believes, how ever, that its Government cannot be dogmatic as to which type of consolidation is suitable for the whole of the country . K.A.N.U. would study the situation in each area with a view to establish

ing the most appropriate system consistent with local conditions and background. But the mere haphazard issue of tities to small pieces of land cannot solve this great problem which now needs

an effective agrarian revolution. We must be aware of the fact that the stability of any society must depend on the equitable land tenure system that prevails . On the other hand , much that has been announced in regard

to the improvement of peasant agriculture and animal husbandry in an effort to accelerate the transformation of a subsistence eco nomy into a cash economy has a long way to go before it can

effectively penetrate the farming structure in the African areas . If Kenya is to survive on her agricultural and animal industry and she must because she will be for a long time an Agricultural country

- comprehensive planning by the State must be imple

mented. This will be comprehensive in the sense that it will take

the country as one whole with a definite target of production to achieve .

What has hitherto been encouraged in the form of

making African agriculture merely subsidiary to that of the White settler will stop.

But the settler must , if he wants to be considered a part and

parcel of Kenya, ween himself from the group mentality and begin to approach Kenya's problems as an individual, whether in the economic or the political field . The people of Kenya must discard group conflicts so that each person may depend on the constitution for his rights . As K.A.N.U. will never be prepared to countenance privileges particularly those demanded on a group basis so also will K.A.N.U. be committed to protect individual rights . Rights to land and property on land are dear to the settler just as they must be fundamental to the indigenous people whose lands were taken away . In the course of land reforms which are inevitable K.A.N.U. will bear these factors in mind .

In other words, K.A.N.U. at present cannot commit any future government to the principles of compensation , although the prin 12 -

ciple of fair and just compensation in the course of such reforms

is accepted . In this compensation , the British Government can 1.0t but accept some responsibility. K.A.N.U. contends that it is entirely the responsibility of the British Government where any promises or guarantees were

given to any individual or group in Kenya. To try to dodge this responsibility by placing Kenya under huge debts in the form of a loans for a Land Stabilisation Fund, which would merely inflate

the value of land, must be considered as completely artificial and not in the interest of Kenya. If anyone does not accept to stay in a free Kenya he must not then be induced to leave by means

of artificially bloated values which his property would not fetch in the ordinary market . Kenya cannot accept the scheme of a Land Stabilisation Fund .

At the same time K.A.N.U. invites all

who believe in fairness and justice, who are ready to develop Kenya, to remain and to partake in the building of this country. All people of Kenya must pull together ; the Samburu , the

Masai, the Suk, etc. , have grazing and water problems which must figure prominently in any future programme. These areas must no longer be regarded as a museum for tourists, SOCIAL POLICY Race discrimination and Colour Bar

The social policy of K.A.N.U. will be designed to foster among the peoples of Kenya the need for equality of opportunity and the welding together of all the races and communities in

kabiting this country into a harmonious whole. Hitherto, social policies in Kenya have been dominated by racial considerations.

The state has protected racialism with the European being the chosen race or the herrenvolk . This policy has been and is being followed by European races in countries they have colonized . in South Africa where the policy has reached its most absurd limits, segregation has ceased to be voluntary as advocated by

General Smuts and appears to be the basis of the South African industry and agriculture. The theme now is that a "master race" must rule the " inferior races” not only in Africa but all over the world. It is a question of one race exterminating another or turning it into slavery. 13

In this classification the African is the last to be hired and

the first to be fired. In South Africa to regulate and regiment the African in all this you have the infamous pass system . To

ensure and control the flow of labour, to keep the African away from the towns so that he might take his labour to the farms and mines, to show at a glance the activities, affiliations and life history of any one at any time the police want to know , the pass

system is enforced. In Kenya'we had the Kipande and during

the Emergency a section of the people had passbooks and other documents .

The pass in South Africa means prison : It means.

that life must be lived in constant fear of arrest , of loss of hus bands , sons, fathers, of mother and wives.

In Kenya it is the

African who is stopped on streets and asked for his employment or identity cards , although the law is supposed to be for all . K.A.N.U. will not tolerate this discrimination and apparent de

gredation, especiaily when it is borne in mind that African have a right to full recognition in their own country . The system of social planning for three races separately leads to wastage. The deplorable wastage and discrimination characteristic of the

present social system is seen in education , health services , housing etc.

The Kenya African National Union reiterates its belief that the provision of social amenities shall be based on consideration cther than race , religion or community , providing thay any group

may have the right through private means to provide for medical or educational facilities.

K.A.N.U. will serve as the vigorous poli

tical vanguard for removing communal, racial, social or economic discrimination, exploitation , and all other forms of oppression .

No political party in any undeveloped country can provide overnight social amenities and services equivalent to those now enjoyed in the so - called advanced countries.

The party must ,

however, be in a position to put into effect certain economic, social and welfare schemes which are ambitious and progressive. This promises nothing but hard work . The people of Kenya must

be led into the modern world through their sweat and toil ; canalised to their social benefit by a political party which be

lieves in a revolutionary and immediate reconstruction. K.A.N.U. will seek to right the existing anomalies in planning where Afri cans have always been relegated to an inferior position . K.A.N.U.

has no intention of perpetuating the domination of one group 14

or class of people over another. On the contrary it pledges itself

to eradicate all privileges based on skin-colour, do away with exploitation and oppression of the African people, and work for an egalitarian society whose interest will be viewed as a whole and not divided into racial compartments . WAGES AND TRADE UNION RIGHTS

African development is retarded by artificial restriction on African wages, and the services given by the employers for labour supplied. Wages are paid more on basis of colour than on skill. That a handful of Africans with high qualifications receive high

wages together with Europeans is not so significant as the fact that all Europeans are paid inflated wages, whatever their skill . K.A.N.U. will work for a great enlargement of opportunities for African employment and promotion and realistic wage levels de parting from the low wage policy pursued to -day . In this regard the recommendations of the Carpenter Committee calling for a stable labour force will guide K.A.N.U.'s attitude. Productivity

must not be thought of simply in terms of physical units of out put but in terms of the value of output .

K.A.N.U. recognizes the fact that social justice must be done to the workers, not only in the wage structure but in all fields of their welfare including housing. They must have the right to mutual protection of their interests through trade unions which shall be free bargaining agents. The right of workers to

organise themselves into trade unions and to maintain their inde pendence in the interests of their members is fundamental to the preservation of a democratic society. The trade union movement in this country has played a major

role in the freedom fight, and K.A.N.U. recognizes the important role they shall continue to play both in that struggle and in safe guarding the interests of the workers of Kenya. Urgent attention must be paid to the position and wages of the rural workers. There is urgent need to provide social security for the work

ers in this country. In the past the policy of encouraging migra tory labour relieved employers and the State of many responsi bilities .

Further mischief caused by the system of migratory

labour is seen in the fact that it operates against substantial im 15

provement in the productive efficiency of the labour employed. On the one hand interruptions to continuity of employment which arise from the system make it difficult, and in certain cases im

possible, for Africans to acquire the kind and variety of skills which are required in an advancing economy ; while the absence of a settled domestic background weakens the incentive towards greater initiative. Due to the very fact that workers are not encouraged to have permanent homes in urban areas a pool of technicians, skilled and semi-skilled , so necessary for a growing industry, is lacking. K.A.N.U. realizes the evils of migratory labour and the waste entailed in not providing the urban pro letariat with conditions necessary for its stability.

The concept underlining the provision of bed -spaces for the African urban workers must give way to the urgent need of providing homes which will enable the worker to ilve with his family :

K.A.N.U. is also well aware of the need to exercise the ut

most vigilance in protecting the interests of the worker as a con sumer .

Hitherto the interests of the European producer have dictated the price structure of commodities. A glaring example is the present high prices of posho, meat milk which are fixed by what are, to all intents and purposes , monopolies. Artificial

restrictions on the movement of produce from district to district

coupled with monopolistic control exercised over them , form the basic of the sky -rocketing prices of these commodities which are the staple food of the African people. K.A.N.U. must eradicate all these white settler inspired restrictions so that prices are brought down. Along with the interests of the workers and peasant farmers K.A.N.U. will work for the immediate uplift of the whole community .

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

K.A.N.U. realizes that community development constitutes one of the important agencies of harnessing the latent energies of the people in the development of our natural resources and in

promoting social welfare.

Our goal of political independence

from imperialist rule must be accompanied by intensive efforts in all directions and at all levels directed towards the elimination

of ignorance, poverty and disease. 16

Community development can be effectively employed in

utilising the surplus man - power in the rural areas, and providing direction and impetus to village communities. A team of social

workers must be trained and much more publicity should be given to the projects so that the people see the fruits of self-help and self-reliance. K.A.N.U. will see that small scale industries which can be run at the village level are introduced so that the

struggle by Kenya to acquire a twentieth century standard will be fought at all levels . LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Democratisation must be the watch -word for the necessary

local government reform . The importance of local government as a means of utilising local leadership and in securing the whole

hearted co-operation of the people in the efficient running of the state can hardly be minimised. Hence the need for representation of people in local government institution on the basis of univeral

adult suffrage. Racialism which has plagued the local Govern inent system must go. It must be replaced by a system which would consider the people of Kenya as one , with nearly the same problems and opportunities. K.A.N.U. has no intention to make the local government

institutions arms of the Central Government to rubber-stamp de

cisions from above via D.C.'s and Chiefs. These institutions must be the very basis of democracy where the people must exercise the right of self- government. With the decentralisation of power and redistribution of subjects the people of Kenya will be in a position to govern themselves locally while at the same time avoiding the authoritarianism and beauracracy inherent in Centralisation .

The Ministry of Local Government will undertake immediate steps to implement reforms . Agents of indirect rule, the P.C.,

D.C. and Chiefs must go. Any agent of future administration must be responsible to the people. Local government shall be on the basis of county councils which would cover an area pre

sently known as a Division in the African areas . This will apply throughout the state ; and membership and election to these

councils shall be open to all citizens of Kenya on the basis of adult franchise. Whatever subjects are transferred to the county 17

1

councils shall be under the complete jurisdiction of the Council and its apparatus coordinated by its chairman.

There shall be

appointed a county commissioner to be a liaison officer between

the Central and Local, Government who shall also be responsible for the Central Government subjects in every county . In cities , towns and municipalities we shall have City, township or muni cipal Councils, as the case may be , led by their mayors. What are now called Locations shall be collectorates with one collector responsible for rates etc. Where locations do not

exist , as in the highlands, collectorates responsible to County Councils shall be formed .

Despite what has been said above the detailed constitutions of the Local Government institutions are to be worked out by K.A.N.U. and ratified by all district branches. Reformation in this field cannot leave out changes in the judical system which must also be adapted to the reform . CIVIL SERVICE

K.A.N.U. is convinced that during this

interim

period

KENYA needs a " Crash-programme" of Africanisation . Such a programme should consist of a deliberate aim to secure promotion and recruitment opportunities for the Africans. Having regard to the fact that we must rule and administer ourselves in our

own country it is essential that independence should not find us unready. Localisation to K.A.N.U. means no more than Afri canisation .

K.A.N.U. attaches great importance to the need for the highest standards of efficiency, integrity and honesty in the Civil Service.

Because of this and the fact that we shall need skill

and experience which our people do not yet have, we shall require expatriate civil servants who may be necessary for the efficient

administration of Kenya to stay on . Such persons will be suitable employed under contracts and expected to serve Kenya faithfully and loyally

Until recently the African has been paid lower wages than the other races in the civil service.

He has been discriminated

against and assigned subordinate jobs only – in spite of the )

18

fact that non - racial terms and conditions were introduced on the recommendation of the Lidbury Commission in 1955. This discri

mination must go . Under K.A.N.U.'s programme Africanisation will not end with filling all new vacancies with local people, but will include a deliberate and systematic creation of vacancies and

improving on the present recruitment policy. The policy would require the appointment of a recruitment and student liaison officer who would ensure that Kenya Students in every part of

the world are familiarised with opportunities available to them in the Civil Service. K.A.N.U. would also ensure the provision of scholarships and post-graduate bursaries to prepare any person

or students for jobs in the civil service. K.A.N.U.'s approach will be broad and without any attempt to piece-meal solutions.

We note the following with great grave concern : ( 1 ) The large number of women , especially the wives of serving Government employees, empolyed in the Govern ment and High Commission services ;

(2 ) The attempts of many civil servants who are engaged on contract terms to convert to permanent terms;

( 3 ) The pensions now going out of Kenya to the old retired gentlemen who served colonialism . Any compensation to expatriate civil servants who will leave Kenya with the coming independence is completely the responsi bility of the British Government. EDUCATION

There are in Kenya nearly 1.1 million children of school age

( 6 to 15 ) . Only a very small part of that number is at school to-day. To provide education for all of them would be impossible under the present system . K.A.N.U. is confident that if the re sources of this county are fully exploited the challenge to give

that number of children 7 years compulsory education can be met . In the past it has been the policy to educate a relatively small number of children on the grounds that the country does not possess the money to build the schools necessary to accom modate all the children .

We firmly believe that it is better to

educate all the children in huts than to wast huge sums on ex pensive buildings only for a part of the number of those who -

19

need education . War against ignorance is the only thing that will save Kenya from backwardness ; and education must treated as a national emergency .

One of these luxuries is the process of eliminating, by means of examinations, most of the students who, under normal cir

cumstances, would have the benefit of education . “ The grading

of classes and schools proceeds on the assumption that of the supils who enter the primary schools at an average age of about seven years , half will, for one reason or another, have dropped out by the time the end of the primary course is reached . Four fifths of those who remain will then be eliminated by examination , and only for the remainder will places be found in intermediate schools. Of these a further 80 per cent will either leave during the intermediate course or be eliminated at the end of it . In other

words, out of every hundred children entering primary schools only ten will be able to find places in the intermediate schools. And of those who go through the secondary schools, only a small proporation are at the end of it able to pass the school leaving certificate examination ." ( E.A. Royal Commission Report ) .

K.A.N.U. is strongly opposed to the practice of eliminating students by the process of examinations, and the provisions of educational requirements of the people on a racial basis. The system is contrary to our desire to evolve a Kenya nation . The

apartheid system applied in education develops the “ Bwana Mkubwa" complex in immigrant communities, as well as being the reason why education is so expensive . K.A.N.U. must eradicate the system that grades the African in the third rank

as K.A.N.U. believes that the present education imparted to our children is not only inadequate in so far as it does not provide for all our children but it is also inadequate in its content . Kenya urgently requires comprehensive, modern , intermediate and

secondary schools which will , in addition to providing academic education , prepare our children for full participation in the eco nomic development of Kenya, as well as create a pool for technical and trade schools , technical high schools , polytechnic institutions , apprenticeships within industry, as well as higher vocational training

K.A.N.U. is concerned at the present wastage resulting from the present system when children are thrown out of school at 20

Std . Il and at K.A.P.E. levels. Not only is this wastage expensive but it brings with it numerous social problems as well as risks to security and stability . K.A.N.U. believes , therefore, that in the interim period before enough facilities for higher education

can be provided, all children who reach the K.A.P.E. level and cannot go further for any reason should be compulsorily required to attend a technical or vocational school for two years .

Such

ů programme would, in addition to meeting other factors , ac celerate the pace of our efforts to create a pool of skilled and semi - skilled labour.

K.A.N.U. welcomes the decision

to

establish a University

College at Nairobi in 1961. For the time being K.A.N.U. supports the idea of an East African University with three constituent Colleges . The needs of Kenya and East Africa will require how

ever that we have more than one University as soon as possible. While welcoming the introduction of the Higher School Certi ficate in Kenya K.A.N.U. condemns the government's present slow manner of doing things " too little too late " . K.A.N.U. would seek to accelerate at once the pace of establishing facilities for

high education and increase facilities for a realistic and effective teacher training programme. As soon as K.A.N.U. comes to power a comprehensive and detailed paper will be produced to secure the implementation of K.A.N.U. policies on education,

K.A.N.U. leaders have been in the vanguard of the movement to secure scholarships for African students to study overseas. We shall intensify our efforts in this direction and at the same time

press for the provisino of facilities which will enable our young men to proceed for higher education in this country .

A special

scholarship Education Committee is being set up to devise ways and means of planning how the maximum number of students can profitably be sent abroad each year. This need not affect local needs providing the Secondary level is expanded to meet the flow from the intermediate schools.

It is strange that the Government, while pleading its inability to provide elementary education for all African children should frustrate the attempts of Africans to provide elementary education

for all African children on a voluntary basis.

Whereas many

European children get subsidies in the bigger part of their education the Africans do not, and in fact many things are done 21 --

to discourage their education, especially higher education . K.A.N.U. would give every incentive to those who wish to build private schools to supplement Government efforts . Soon enough Kenya will have to man , among other things, her own industries , ordnance factories, commercial fleets , the marine and the civil service . Personnel must be trained now .

K.A.N.U. believes strongly that this warrants a very ambitious and immediate training of young men and women in all fields of technology, commerce and other services . A very comprehensive technical education programme is a must for Kenya ' to-day . K.A.N.U. will see that all is done to make possible the launching of such a programme. The children of Kenya must be taught to build their motherland and to love her rather than be allowed

to develop a slavish mentality under a stilted education . Education should instil the love of one's motherland and way of life . It should train youth to love the freedom of their mind and body. It must foster pride in ones country so that one would

want to build one's country into a great nation. It is K.A.N.U.'s contention that the present educational system does not make the African student take his rightful place in the fight for free

dom . In other words, it has not created that yearning for free dom of the individual and one's country that must necessarily be

the result of a good education . What we see is the desire among the educated to compete with the local European in the super fluities of life . K.A.N.U. appeals to the education youth of Kenya to come away from their comforts so as to lead their suffering brethren into freedom .

DETAINED LEADERS

We maintain that denial of freedom to Jomo Kenyatta and the detained people of Kenya is a mockery of justice. It is sheer injustice and a contravention of the United Nation's declaration of human rights to restrict anyone without a trial or after he has completed a prison sentence. These leaders must be released. K.A.N.U. is certain that the continued detention of these leaders

is contrary to the basic interests of this country. It unnecessarily poisons the relationship between the Africans and Government .

Everyone is aware that at the leaders ' Conference at Kiam - 22

bu, Jomo Kenyatta was unanimously elected President of the Kenya African National Union . Despite legal technicalities , Jomo

Kenyatta, the father of Kenya nationalism , is our leader.

We

love him to be our leader and we want him to be so .

Leaders of K.A.N.U. have been in the forefront of the move

ment to secure the release of Kenyatta as well as that of all others detained. When K.A.N.U. gets any real voice in the Govern ment, this will be realized.

Much of the current legislation deny the African people their rights and severely restrict their freedom .

The Deportation of

British Subjects Act has been invariably used to deny the Afri can political and trade union leaders their freedom . Under this Act, the Governor is empowered to make a deportation or a restriction order either in lieu of or in addition to the sentence

imposed by a Court of Law against " undesirable persons ”. The preservation of Public Security Ordinance, 1959, and the Detain ed and Restricted Persons ( Special Provisions ) Ordinance 1959 are other legislation currently employed to detain Africans for over eight years without trial. Not only are these leaders detain

ed without trial, but they are also restricted under conditions which are inhuman . The restriction of our leaders at Lodwar, Lokitaung , Marsabit, Hola and Manyani suggests that, not only

are they to suffer the deprivation of their liberty, but are de liberately confined to areas which are unhealthy, extremely hot . mosquito-ridden and deserted .

K.A.N.U. is pledged to remove all these undemocratic, unjust and arbitrary practices. APPROACH TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Positive Indeper dence and Pan -Africanism

It is almost academic for K.A.N.U. to speak of a foreign

policy at this stage. Yet a clear definition of our intention would allay the fears which might arise in those circles where the world

must necessarily be strait -jacketed into two parts. A principle which divides the world into so - called Western and Eastern ( note :

not Oriental ) intentionally, ignores the fact that peoples other than whites can make a contribution to the development of world 23

peace and welfare.

We reject this division of the world into

camps in which Super -powers provide the philosophy, way of life and the wherewithal of life in their own camps or spheres . The world must consist of independent states all working for the

good of all, and not of two dominating states slavishly followed by their satellites or stooges . K.A.N.U. believes in “ Positive Independence " and will follow this, for only Positive Independence will be consistent with KENYA's dignity and freedom. We shall not be neutral where

we feel we must take sides with what is right and also where truth and justice are concerned. We shall not refrain from de

nouncing that which is wrong, unjust and inhuman. Neutrality to us smacks of compromise ; between truth and wrong there must be no middle way, or non - commital attitude. We shall not compromise with what we regard as truth or right.

It will be

the very basis of our independence to positively choose right wherever we see it . Alignment with military pacts or with powers blocks is obviously inconsistent with this ideal .

K.A.N.U. believes that the African Personality and dignity must be built on the basis of Positive Independence. This means then that we have no intentions to follow any beaten path in our approach to any world problems , but to insist that that which

might be referred to as pure Africanism must have a place in the dimensions of approach to every problem . International jaws, and international relations have been considerably influenc ed by the dominating position occupied by the colonial powers . It is high time all these were reformed , taking into account the

new forces and changes which have arisen and the legitimate interests and position of the new nations . No longer should in ternational relations be based only on East or West ideas. We shall work for Pan - Africanism because we believe that only in the collective approach to all problems facing Africa lies salvation and the way to regain our !ost dignity. It will be un becoming of any son of Africa, and particularly of Kenya, to rest before the human dignity of all peoples of Africa and those of African origin everywhere is regained. As this time we must resolutely declare ourselves against South Africa and its inhuman policies . As soon as we are independent K.A.N.U. will sever relations with the fascist States of South Africa and Portugal. 24

We shall strive by every means within our power to help our

brothers in South Africa and in the Portuguese territories to achieve freedom .

It must also be mentioned here that all those

great countries which build their wealth on the South African

industry and agriculture which is derived and built on the slavery of the African people, cannot look for friendship in any African state.

K.A.N.U. has no intention to take KENYA out of the

Association of independent States commonly known as the Com monwealth . This association is founded on certain free prin ciples worthwhile for all humanity. K.A.N.U. believes the Com monwealth is the right direction towards a world oneness . But

K.A.N.U. would not commit any future Government of Kenya to a situation in which, against its best judgment , will have to associate with inhuman states like South Africa.

K.A.N.U. believes strongly that settlement of world problems or differences must not be done through force. The U.N.O. may prove to be the best forum in which all differences may be re solved: We shall support the U.N.O. in this purpose. The U.N.O. can play the greatest part in the development of new underdeveloped countries like Kenya . K.A.N.U. will work for the realisation of this objective which is already included in the U.N.O. Charter. At the same time we shall resist strongly any attempt by the U.N.O. to become a dominating force or a

tool of a super power, or if it tries to reduce any country to a position of perpetual international trusteeship. FOREIGN MILITARY BASES

K.A.N.U. , like many of the other new nations, and in line with our policy of non -alignment with either the East or West military power blocs, will not allow any form of foreign military base ( s ) to be established in Kenya. Kenya must not be a pawn in the struggles of the East and West nor do we want to see

Kenya transformed into a battleground in the event of an East / West military conflict. We are certain that our people would

not approve of Kenya being used by NATO or the British in any localised conflicts between NATO or British forces and any part of Africa , Asia or the Middle East .

K.A.N.U. condemns the fact

that Britain chose to ignore African protests at the time when they started to establish the Kahawa British Military Base.

K.A.N.U. will press for the immediate closing down of the base. - 25

The K.A.N.U. Manifesto In Brief

K.A.N.U. BEFORE INDEPENDENCE

1. We want independence and release of Kenyatta now.

2. K.A.N.U.'s main goal, as is the goal of all indigenous people

of Kenya, is independence NOW . Imperialism under which Kenya suffers today is detrimental to the interests of the African people. Because imperialism and Colonialism are long dead and buried in other parts of the world , and in view of the fact that world opinion is with us , we are certain to win .

3. Mere Conferences, resolutions and delegations to England

alone will never bring independence. Kenyans must be ready to sacrifice all to attain freedom .

4. In this effort unity will be vital.

Political parties may be

part of the working of a democracy that Kenya will adopt after independence. For the attainment of that independ ence , however, what is required is a solid national movement. K.A.N.U. is the vanguard of that movement, and is to take

new steps to bring unity between all splinter groups. The leader and father of our nation - -Jomo Jomo Kenyatta - has fully endorsed this position.

5. Immigrant groups who have Kenya's interest at heart are

welcome to identify themselves effectively with our strug gle. K.A.N.U. opposes their efforts to act as a group to impede our independence. If these negative efforts are

persisted in , K.A.N.U. will ask the African people to resort to a “ Quit Kenya ” movement. 6. We believe in the fundamental rights of the individual and

these will be guaranteed by the Constitution drawn up by a Constituent Assembly .

Clamours 26

for a Bill of Rights,

privileges and paper safeguards can never be a substitute for a racial harmony which is essential.

7. Modern civilised standards will be maintained. Kenya will not , however, base its future on the pretentious civilization witnessed among a section of the so - called civilized people . K.A.N.U. IN POWER

8. The technical foundations of a modern civilization are in dispensable for Kenya's advancement. In this advancement what is worthwhile in the so- called western civilization will

form a part of our Africanism and form one of the in gredients in the synthesis that will form the basis of our own African personality .

9. The individual must enjoy political as well as economic free dom . K.A.N.U. will ensure employment, protect the citizen from long hours of work and ascertain a minimum wage

which could afford the worker clothing for himself and his family, decent food, education for his children , a little com fort and leisure.

10. K.A.N.U. shall work for the speedy economic reconstruction of Kenya . It will ensure that the means of production , distribution and exchange are under the best obtainable system .

Each citizen will be asked to contribute as much

as he is capable for only then will he have a right to as much as he needs .

11. The social policy of K.A.N.U. will be designed to foster among the peoples of Kenya the need for a state based on

equality of opportunity and the welding together of all races and communities inhabiting Kenya. The myth of the " master race" has no place here . 12. K.A.N.U. does not favour state assistance for educational and

medical institutions confined to members of a single race

or community. The state shall be homogenous.

13. K.A.N.U. knows that nothing ( least of all building a new nation ) can be achieved without hard work . The people of 27

Kenya must come into the Twentieth Century by their sweat

and toil . Both public and private enterprise, local or from overseas , have a sure place in Kenya's development. 14. Wages shall not be paid on the basis of colour, and K.A.N.U.

will work for a great enlargement of opportunities for Afri can employment . Trade Unions have come to stay and have an important role to play in the preservation of a democratic society in Kenya. 15. Workers shall be assured of family life at their places of

work so that their skill , industry and well -being of their families are not interfered with through migratory labour.

16. Land reforms that are necessary for the development of Kenya into a prosperous welfare state must be left to the unfettered discretion of the future free government of the country.

17. It is true that there are genuine grievances of the African people as regards land . It is also true that there are large expanses of land in the highlands and elsewhere, while land hunger among the indigenous people is great . K.A.N.U.

foremost problem , then , will be resettlement under a land reform programme .

18. Resettlement shall not , at any rate , be at the cost of the

high standard of agriculture already attained and which must continue .

19. A committee will be appointed to go into the squatter problem and to suggest best means of meeting this problem ,

with the object of ensuring security and a resonable standard of living for the squatter and agricultural labourer. 20. To

ensure resettlement it may be necessary for the state to

appropriate land from those who now own large square

miles. There shall be compensation for property on the land in the case of such expropriation. 21. K.A.N.U. will most emphatically not deprive any of the pastoral peoples of their land . It will push ahead develop 28

ment plans in these areas to raise production so as to ensure the raising of the standard of those people, so far neglected by the present government.

22. In K.A.N.U.'s development plan, hitherto undeveloped parts, for example Masai grazing lands, will have priority. The Masai and the people of the Northern Frontier and parts of the Coast and Rift Valley provinces have had the least con sideration in present government's educational and advance ment schemes. K.A.N.U. will spare no efforts to see that the balance of development in Kenya is even .

23. There shall be a comprehensive plan to revolutionise Afri can agriculture and to stop African agricultural development being subordinated to that of the white settler. 24. K.A.N.U. shall strive to make education available to all children of Kenya for the first 7 years. We shall treat the fight against ignorance as an emergency. Education shall be liberal and not impeded by devious means such as

" eliminating" examination Technical and higher education will be prominent in the plan. K.A.N.U. appeals to all educated Africans to come forward and lead their people into freedom .

25. K.A.N.U.'s position as regards Jomo Kenyatta and other detained leaders is clear. K.A.N.U. condemns arbitrary de tention or restriction without trial and will not rest until all

sons of Kenya so detained or restricted are set free. 26. Legislation denying the African people their rights and

restricting their freedom shall go. 27. There shall be democratisation in the Local Government

institutions and unification of the system. Racialism as the basis of Local Government system will go. 28. Agents of “ indirect rule" , the P.C.'s, the D.C.'s , and the Chiefs must be replaced by a democratic and representative system .

29. To K.A.N.U., localisation in the Civil Service means no more >

29

tchan Africanisation . At the same time we shall do all in our power to induce necessary expatriate Civil Servants to remain with us.

30. Our approach to foreign affairs will be on the lines of positive

Independence and non alignment with military or power blocks. The African personality must be the basis of our approach to peace and human welfare. Neutrality which would compromise truth is not our policy . We reserve the

31. Foreign military bases cannot be anything but a threat to Kenya's positive independence and security . K.A.N.U. there fore categorically rejects the idea of a military base in

Holder

Kenya and will work towards the removal of any base that might exist when it comes to power.

ahard toestoy

right to oppose or support all issues on their merit.

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