Release Political Prisoner’s (RPP) Tribute to Comrade Ng’ang’a Thiong’o
From: Robert Alai.

It is not easy to write a tribute for a true comrade, a revolutionary, an environmentalist, a peoples’ advocate, a principled politician, a global citizen, an intellectual and creative thinker like Ng’ang’a Thiong’o. The Release Political Prisoners Social Movement is deeply saddened by his demise. We shall dearly lose his commitment and dedication to a course, for a better, well managed and administered Kenya, Africa and the world, where all can be happy and feel accommodated and accepted.

Ng’anga’ the revolutionary
Thiong’o, a former political prisoner who also underwent the torturous Nyayo House experiences, believed and we lost him still holding the same beliefs that another Kenya was and still is, truly possible. Even when he was on his bed, writhing in pain, he kept on asking why are Kenyans dying of treatable diseases after 46 years of independence? Why are the poor always the ones being laid on the corridors of the hospitals and why are those who were speaking of change since 1990s not concerned with the basics of live like access and affordable HEALTH CARE, education, water, food, shelter and clothing?

Thiong’o was very clear in his mind that the system Kenya has held since independence will always impoverish even those who think and keep on thinking that they were rich and hence will keep on managing the downtrodden. He held the strong view that Kenya and Kenyans shall always prosper if we all see humanity and the people in the ways we manage the public affairs.

Ng’ang’a being who he was, he combined very conservative disciplines with activism and advocacy, a very rare blend indeed. He could be seen in street activism in ties, chatting and singing with the commoners, and some went asking “who is this so smartly dressed yet chatting hard anti-government slogan?” He must be very different then!

Ng’ang’a the bold and visionary leader
When things got tough and he saw there was no other way out, he could quickly make calls and ask for meetings. The RPP Social Movement will recall the 2005-2007 debacles when Thiong’o offered and steered the organisation as the Chairperson, from almost total closure to some stability. This was due to his exemplary leadership and strength of conviction that we did it before; we can always do it better.

Thiong’o was a leader for all and especially those who needed empowerment. He was always concerned of what the RPP and other activists were doing about the squatters, the small scale business people and informal traders (hawkers), the evictees, the IDPs, the arrested and confined, the persons with disabilities, the albinos, the indigenous communities, the marginalized, the poor, the dropouts, the jobless, disempowered women, the heroes and heroines of our country. He never forgot the history on the struggle for independence and those who died for it.

All activists and human rights defenders will always remember him and the courageous socialist speech he made during the burial of the celebrated true liberator, Honourable Bildad Kaggia at Maragwa (RIP)!, before the who was who in the dais, including the highest office in the country, and he went on to ask “why were those who had ignored and defied Kaggia’s wisdom, in all his live there? He called everyone by their names to the surprise of all but to celebration of those who have stood by the peoples discourse.

Ng’ang’a the anti-tribal crusader
Thiong’o kept on advising the RPP fraternity and all activists and defenders of people’s rights that tribalism and ethnicity had no space in Kenya and those who leaned to the same ideology will always be doomed to fail and cause turmoil in the country.

He held deep conviction that it was because of tribalism and ethnicity that massive corruption and mismanagement of public affairs was thrive in Kenya, impunity escalated, mediocrity ruled us, ignorance and illiteracy was thriving, lack of access to services like education and health had increased among many other vices. Thiong’o’s predicaments’ have always been real to the Kenya we see today. He believed in transformative change that we should all yearn for.

He always advised that we teach our children’s values and principles around humanity, nationhood, neighborliness, culture and mother tongues and learning of other community’s languages to deal with tribalism and ethnic bigotry.

A big loss really!!
As RPP Social Movement, we have really lost a Kenyan leader, a human rights defender and an activist, a people’s advocate, a green environmentalist, a principled politician, a teacher on societal transformation, a global citizen and an open minded person always willing to learn on any aspect in people’s lives.

May You Rest in Peace Comrade, with the spirits of TRUE KENYAN, AFRICAN AND WORLD LIBERATORS!

Ni yale yale mambo ya ukoloni; ukoloni mkongwe, ukoloni mamboleo……tuyakatae!!!

ALUTA CONTINUA……………