Kenya: We Will Crush You

Tribalism is a distasteful word to educated Africans. It suggests that atavistic fears play a disproportionate role in the politics of new African nations. Distasteful or not, tribalism is a key to many African problems—a point that was made all too emphatically in Kenya last week. President Jomo Kenyatta, who with his fellow Kikuyu has ruled the country since independence in 1963, threw Opposition Leader Oginga Odinga in prison and banned his Luo-dominated party.

Kikuyu and Luo, first and second largest of Kenya’s 46 main tribes, have long controlled the country’s politics. Initially, neither Kenyatta’s Kenya African

National Union (KANU) nor Odinga’s Kenya People’s Union (KPU) were organized along strictly tribal lines. One of KANU’s brightest stars, for example, was Tom Mboya, the brilliant young Minister for Economic Planning—and a Luo. In recent years, however, both party memberships have become increasingly polarized. Mboya’s assassination last July widened the rift. A Kikuyu was found guilty of Mboya’s murder, and ugly rumors persist that high-ranking KANU leaders instigated the slaying. At Mboya’s funeral, Kenyatta’s car was stoned. Fearful of further Luo unrest, the Kikuyu resumed the Mau Mau-like oath-takings near Kenyatta’s home, thereby compounding Luo distrust. Then came the latest explosion.

Angry Warning. Kenyatta and a milelong KANU motorcade, fresh from rousing receptions in KANU territory, drove into Luo-dominated Kisumu in western Kenya. Almost immediately, signs of hostility were apparent. As a gesture of welcome, local officials had banana trees planted along the road. When Kenyatta drove past, however, cattle and goats set loose by Luo farmers were placidly munching the bananas. At a mass rally to dedicate a $3,500,000 Russian-built hospital, tension sharpened. As Odinga stood by, KPU hecklers shouted “Dume” (pronounced du-may and meaning “bull”), the party’s slogan, and KANU backers retaliated. Turning on Odinga, Kenyatta shouted: “KPU is only engaged in dirty divisive words. Odinga is my friend, but he has been misled and he in turn continues to mislead the people of this area.” Then he warned Odinga and his KPU followers: “We are going to crush you into flour. Anybody who toys with our progress will be crushed like locusts. Do not say later that I did not warn you publicly.”

As Kenyatta’s convoy began to move away after the speech, spectators stoned the lead car. Panicky police fired point-blank into the crowd, leaving at least nine dead and 70 wounded. Two days later, Kenya police arrested Odinga, and most of the other KPU leadership, including all eight of the party’s MPs. A day later, KPU was banned for allegedly seeking “to overthrow the lawful and constitutional government of the Republic of Kenya.” It seemed a clear reference to Communist intrigues. Though apparently no Communist, Odinga is a leftist who has accepted funds from Soviet and Chinese Communist agents; “Double O” was also instrumental in persuading the Russians to build the new hospital in Kisumu.

Almost simultaneously with the banning of KPU—the sole opposition party —the Kenya government announced that it would ask Parliament to adjourn this week in preparation for elections expected late this year. With the opposition out of action, it should be just the sort of campaign that Kenyatta and his Kikuyu need in order to solidify Kikuyu power—and to guarantee KANU rule in the post-Kenyatta years.