While thousands of people in Kenya and Britain march to condemn Israel for its genocidal attacks on Palestine, the rulers of both countries side with Israel and give it material and/or moral support for its inhuman actions. Even the opposition Labour Party in Britain competes with the ruling Conservative Party in expressing its solidarity with the actions of Israel. The current situation has exposed the contradictions between US imperialism and its people, between the ruling classes and working people around the world, between the isolated imperialism-created ‘Israel’ and world opinion as expressed in many resolutions at the UN and millions of people on the streets around the world.

There are demonstrations in many countries around the world against the Israeli attacks on Palestine. Its illegal occupation of Palestine has stretched into decades. The very creation of Israel was based on stealing Palestinian lands and massacring or exiling its people.

This issue of The Kenya Socialist (TKS) focuses on occupied Palestine and the genocide carried out there by Israel, USA, and its allies, particularly Britain. The atrocities committed are difficult to report adequately as reporters are often killed to prevent such news. However, we carry some illustrations of the resistance to the Zionist attacks on Palestine.

The conflict in Gaza has been characterised by a lot of media manipulation, with Israel and its allies steering narratives to obscure the reality of a genocide taking place through mainstream media. In a span of just two months, the Israeli government has carried out attacks resulting in the death of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, many being children and women. The indiscriminate nature of the attacks, which have claimed the lives of civilians, unequivocally constitutes war crimes under international law. Israel in its pursuit of military attacks, has dropped over 25,000 tonnes of explosives — equivalent to approximately 1.5 times the explosive force of the bomb unleashed on Hiroshima during the Second World War.

As the conflict persists, there has been great effort on narrative control wielded by Israel and its allies – the categorising of those who advocate a ceasefire as terrorists. In the annals of 2023, it will be recorded that, alarmingly, a call for peace was equated with a call for genocide. This distortion of language and intent not only impedes progress toward a peaceful resolution but also contributes to a situation where Israel is not held accountable for its actions.

Compounding the issue, the United Kingdom and its allies have taken measures to attempt to ban the use of the phrase and chant “From the river to the sea,” misconstruing it as a call for genocide. This phrase, historically significant in the Palestinian struggle, has now become a victim of misinterpretation and censorship. The repercussions of such actions extend beyond mere linguistic control, encroaching on the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

Further, owners in the tech industry have become complicit in this narrative manipulation. Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has declared an intent to ban the use of the phrase from its platform.

The stark contrast between the position of the ruling class and the people in Kenya is clear. While the government of President William Ruto welcomes Israeli aggression and massacres, the people of Kenya show clear opposition to the government’s position through demonstrations and statements. The people, indeed, are aware of the real power behind the war.

brazilian artist Carlos Latiff
Kenya all out for Palestine

The full history of Kenyan resistance to imperialism and to the comprador rule imposed on the people has yet to be written. This is particularly necessary as key activists age and pass on, as did Mashujaa Micere Mugo, Field Marshal Muthoni and Professor Shadrack Gutto. The Editors of TKS express their condolences to their families and to comrades saddened by their deaths.

saluting the field marshal

Field Marshal Muthoni

Micere Mugo

Micere Mugo

shadrack gutto

Proffessor Shadrack Guto

This issue of TKS ends with a review of the book, Two Paths Ahead, by John Graversgaard. Another review of the same book, by Tom Odhiambo, was carried in Issue No.6 of The Kenya Socialist. This indicates the need for further studies on the ideological struggle in Kenya between capitalism and socialism — a subject almost entirely ignored by researchers and historians.

michelle alexander
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