Commentary (by Mwandawiro Mghanga) - Social reform needs participation, not violence

Ref: http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143983235&cid=15

Published on March 14, 2008, 12:00 am

By Mwandawiro Mghanga

A giant will be laid to rest when Dr Apollo Njonjo, the founder of Social Democratic
Party (SDP), is buried at his family farm in Limuru.

The death of Njonjo has saddened us greatly for it has robbed Kenya of a great patriot, progressive political activist, revolutionary intellectual and good human being who was a friend and comrade of many.

Njonjo worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Nairobi where he joined forces with progressive lecturers and students in the struggle for academic freedom, human rights and democracy at a time of single party dictatorship.

He was also part of the struggles of civil society where he contributed to the push for multi-party democracy and a new Constitution.

In development, his largest contribution was in formulating reform policies in the water sector, some of which are now being implemented by the Government.

In his active political life, Nonjo was a revolutionary. He took a class stand on the side of the oppressed majority and not only championed their cause by disseminating progressive and socialist ideas, but also actively participated in organising the struggle for change in the country.

I had the privilege of interacting with Njonjo at many levels of life, in politics and in social life, in Nairobi, Limuru and at my home in Taita.

We used to discuss, quarrel, agree and disagree, yet we always remained friends and comrades. In critising one another, we preferred to emphasise the strength within us rather than our weaknesses for that would encourage rather than discourage us.

About three weeks before he died, Njonjo visited me at my home in Nairobi at about 11am and stayed there up to 6pm that evening. The next day he invited me into the city centre and again we spent another whole day together. Thinking about it now that he is dead, it is as if my comrade and friend was bidding me farewell.

During those two days, the recent post-election violence and its adverse effects were often on his mind. We were both shocked and traumatised by the extent of anger, bitterness, hatred, revenge and sheer barbarism manifested.

The mayhem, terror, anarchy and gross violations of human rights questioned the whole concept of Kenya as a viable nation. We had little idea tribalism could rear its ugly head in such brutal, primitive, vile and horrendous manner.

Wherever there are classes there will always be conflicts. These are inevitable and necessary to deal with social contradictions. But the post-election conflicts were destructive conflicts. They were reactionary for they were causing death and suffering to the people, escalating the problem of poverty, tribalism and underdevelopment while eroding national sovereignity and impeding social progress.

The Annan-mediated political solution has produced peace to a great extent. However, we hoped that Kenyans will take the opportunity to press not only for power sharing but for wealth sharing as well.

Njonjo was always researching and searching for solutions to the problems of poverty and underdevelopment that led to the founding of the SDP. He believed in participatory democracy that empowers the people with knowledge and ability to participate in decisionmaking and to question the motives of their leaders. He was always optimistic that poverty and underdevelopment could be eradicated through sound leadership with sound economic and social policies. The measure of progress, he said, should not be abstract statistics but concrete change in the conditions of people’s lives.

Njonjo’s ideas contributed a great deal in shaping SDP’s political and economic policies. We believe the people are the subjects and objects of economic, political, social and cultural policies. To abolish poverty we must firstly provide the essentials to all people, that is, food, clothing, housing and jobs.

This, of course, requires investment in people-centred projects in agriculture and industry based on polices that are deliberately geared towards creating jobs, developing skills and increasing national wealth.

As we endeavour to build our party and entrench our polices, we shall always be indebted to Njonjo. Our comrade has left us at the age of 61, years that he used well. As part of his wide political family, I mourn him and I will never forget him. Farewell, comrade.

The writer is the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party