The eighth issue of The Kenya Socialist comes at a time when the factions of the ruling class are uniting in an effort to solidify their power. Some of these factions, which over the years have used progressive rhetoric to deceive the masses into supporting them, can no longer hide their true colours. This unmasking is a result of the shock that occurred in mid-2024, when a youth-led movement took to the streets in large numbers to protest against the proposed new taxes on basic goods, including sanitary pads, diapers, edible oil, and bread. These tax increases were part of a stringent package recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The taxes, introduced under the Finance Bill, 2024, sparked widespread protests that forced the comprador government to withdraw the Finance Bill which by then had become the Act.

Shiraz Durrani provides a historical background to these protests, drawing parallels with past resistance movements such as the Mau Mau, the Kenya Peoples Union (KPU), the December Twelve Movement, and Mwakenya. He relates these struggles to the unresolvable contradictions within the capitalist system.

The Kenyan government has also sent 400 police officers to Haiti, ostensibly to help combat gang violence in the country. Kimani examines Haiti’s history to help readers understand the genesis of the violence and the hidden role of imperialist countries in fostering the very violence they claim to be concerned about. He also highlights how the Kenyan government is being used by imperialist powers, particularly the United States, to advance their own interests. In the end, Kimani draws important lessons from this intervention.

In our sixth issue, we published Part One of UMOJA Seen Through its Documents, 1987-1990, and promised to feature Part Two in seventh issue. However, we decided to dedicate Issue Seven to solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against Zionist genocide. In this current issue, we have included both Part Two and Part Three of the article on Umoja. Those who missed Part One are encouraged to read it first for context and a deeper understanding. The article delves into the publications produced by Umoja and their significance in today’s struggle.

Pan-Africanism has recently gained significant traction among Africans both on the continent and in the diaspora. This surge in interest has seen many promoting the idea. However, some are distorting the true essence of Pan-Africanism as envisioned by its founding figures, such as George Padmore, CLR James, WEB Du Bois, and Kwame Nkrumah. In a joint article, Kinuthia Ndungu and Nicholas Mwangi explore what genuine Pan-Africanism is by revisiting its history and exposing the watered-down versions advocated by liberal forces. They illustrate how these distortions manifest and argue that they hinder Africa from achieving true liberation.

Finally, Alieu Bah takes us through a paper written by Mao in 1937, where he critiques liberalism and its role in maintaining the status quo. Bah contextualizes Mao’s critique and shows how liberalism serves the interests of the ruling class while pacifying the masses with false promises of change. He argues that, despite its image of tolerance and progress, liberalism stifles real revolution by promoting reformist figures who, although appearing to rise from the people, are co-opted by the system and supported by imperialist agents like the National Endowment for Democracy.

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