Honoured delegates, comrades, and esteemed participants,
It is a profound honour to stand before you at this historic gathering, especially in Dakar, a city that has long been a beacon of resistance and intellectual awakening in the fight against imperialism. I speak today as the National Vice Chairperson of the Central Organizing Committee of the Communist Party of Kenya, representing not just my country, but a broader movement for African unity, socialism, and liberation.
This year, as we mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Amilcar Cabral, the revolutionary leader of Guinea-Bissau, we are reminded of his indelible contribution to Pan-Africanism and anti-imperialist struggles. Cabral taught us that the fight against imperialism is not just a fight for sovereignty, but a struggle for dignity, development, and the liberation of our people from all forms of oppression. His legacy lives on in our continuing efforts to break the chains of neo-colonialism and imperialist domination in Africa and beyond.
Today, we confront the same imperialist forces Cabral fought against-this time with even greater intensity. The French and US imperialist powers continue to strangle our continent, with the Sahel region and Senegal being prime targets of their military, economic, and political influence. It is crucial that we gather here in solidarity, not just to commemorate our past victories, but to forge the path ahead in the struggle against modern imperialism.
Crisis of Capitalism in Kenya
Recent events in Kenya reveal that the struggle against imperialism is alive and well. We are witnessing a new generation rise up―a generation that is unafraid to challenge the structures of capitalist exploitation and state repression. The widespread anti-IMF-backed finance bill protests across the country, including the recent protests against the administration of the US puppet, President Ruto, are a clear manifestation of the growing discontent with neoliberal policies, corruption, and deepening inequality.
These protests reflect a broader crisis of capitalism. Young people in Kenya are demanding jobs, better education, and an end to systemic economic injustices imposed by a capitalist class that serves imperialist interests. The failure of neoliberal policies, compounded by IMF and World Bank loans, has only exacerbated this crisis. It is not just a Kenyan problem; it is a Pan-African problem rooted in the continued exploitation of Africa’s labour and resources by global capital.
The demands of this generation align with the core tenets of Pan-Africanism: the need for true sovereignty, self-determination, and economic justice. This is why our struggle must connect with these movements, guiding them with a socialist perspective that transcends national borders and links their fight to the broader anti-imperialist struggle in Africa and globally.
Neo-Colonial Manipulation and Imperialist Tactics in Africa
Comrades, imperialism today is more insidious than ever. The tactics have evolved, but the goal remains the same: the exploitation of African resources and the subjugation of African peoples. This is particularly evident in the neo-colonial manipulation by the U.S. and France. Under the guise of military interventions and economic aid, they continue to prop up regimes that serve their interests and destabilize those who dare to challenge their influence.
In the Sahel region, for instance, France has masked its military presence as a counterterrorism effort, but in reality, it is about maintaining control over the resources and geopolitical influence in West Africa. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to expand its military footprint through AFRICOM, imposing neoliberal economic policies through institutions like the IMF and World Bank, which plunge our nations into debt and poverty.
We must expose and resist these tactics, recognizing that the imperialist powers aim to undermine our sovereignty while consolidating their control over our land, labour, and wealth. Pan-Africanism today is a movement that seeks to uproot these systems of oppression and build a socialist Africa free from external domination.
Mass Mobilization and Ideological Unity
The path to African liberation lies in mass mobilization and ideological unity. It is only through the unity of the working class, the peasantry, and all oppressed peoples that we can build a socialist future. This is why revolutionary education is critical. We must create a politically conscious population, especially among our youth, who understand the importance of Marxism-Leninism as a guiding principle in our struggle against imperialism.
The Internal Struggle in the Communist Party of Kenya and the Defeat of Opportunism and Revisionism
Comrades, our revolution is not only challenged by the external forces of imperialism but also by internal adversaries who seek to derail our path to a socialist Kenya. The Communist Party of Kenya (CPK), like many revolutionary movements, has had to grapple with the twin dangers of revisionism and opportunism. These corrosive tendencies have emerged at key moments in our history, weakening our resolve, diluting our Marxist-Leninist principles, and compromising our ability to lead the mass struggles of the Kenyan people.
The internal struggle within our party has been necessary to preserve the integrity of our movement. Certain factions have sought to water down our ideology in exchange for short-term, personal, or sectarian gains. These elements, far from being allies in our revolutionary cause, have become obstacles to our progress. They distract from our core mission of building a socialist Kenya, undermining not only the CPK but also the broader socialist movement across the continent.
At the heart of this internal sabotage has been the notorious “Gang of Two”―Wachira and Mghanga. These vacillating comrades represent the very worst of opportunism. Their slapdash approach to Marxism-Leninism has led to nothing but failure after failure. They have attempted to fracture our party, poisoning it with their revisionist ideology and subversive tactics. In their quest for relevance, they have aligned themselves with the interests of the comprador class and their international sponsors, betraying the working class they claim to represent.
These liquidators, who masquerade as “born-again revolutionaries,” have tried to cloak their betrayal under the guise of renewal, but their actions reveal the truth. They seek to save the very system they pretend to oppose. But their opportunism has not gone unnoticed by the Kenyan masses, who have rejected their shallow attempts to undermine the revolutionary work of the CPK.
Over the past two years, Wachira and Mghanga have dug themselves into a deeper hole, slandering the party and its leadership in a vain attempt to prove their worth to foreign backers. Their failures are not just personal but symptomatic of the broader failure of revisionism. They have been consumed by the wrath of the Kenyan masses, and their efforts to sink the party have only strengthened the resolve of true revolutionaries.
The defeat of this fifth column within the party marks a decisive moment in our history. The forces of opportunism and revisionism have been unmasked and cast aside. It is now up to us, the revolutionaries, to continue to chart the course forward. We must remain vigilant, ensuring that the counter-revolutionaries of the revolution are kept at bay, and that the principles of collective discipline, ideological clarity, and unwavering commitment to the people guide our every action.
Comrades, we are on the right side of history. The defeat of opportunism and revisionism in the CPK is not just a victory for our party but a victory for all those fighting for a socialist future across Africa. Let this be a lesson to all: the struggle for liberation requires not only the defeat of external enemies but also the purging of internal traitors who seek to compromise our cause. The future belongs to us, the people, and the revolution will continue. Victory to the people’s struggles! Victory to socialism!
Pan-Africanism as Revolutionary Praxis
Pan-Africanism is not just an idealistic dream of African unity; it is a revolutionary praxis, a weapon in our fight against imperialism and neo-colonialism. As the Communist Party of Kenya posits, Pan-Africanism must evolve into a mass-based political and economic struggle, rooted in scientific socialism. It is through this lens that we must approach the fight for a united socialist Africa. Our goal is to build a future where our resources are used for the benefit of the many, not for the enrichment of a capitalist elite or foreign powers.
The concept of Pan-Africanism was never meant to be a tool for cultural or symbolic unity alone. The visionaries of our struggle, from Kwame Nkrumah to Amilcar Cabral, understood that only through the unity of working-class and revolutionary forces can we dismantle the structures of exploitation and imperialism. Today, we must confront the liberal forces that seek to dilute Pan-Africanism, transforming it into an empty slogan while maintaining the capitalist and neo-colonial systems that continue to exploit our people.
Comrades, the struggle for Pan-Africanism and anti-imperialism is a struggle for the very soul of our continent. It is a struggle for our people’s right to self-determination, sovereignty, and dignity. As we move forward, let us carry the lessons of our revolutionary ancestors-of Amilcar Cabral, Kwame Nkrumah, and others-into the future. Let us build a united Africa, one that is free from imperialist domination and capitalist exploitation.
In solidarity with all anti-imperialist, antifascist, and anti-Zionist movements across the globe, we shall continue to fight until the final victory is won-a world where the people, not imperialist powers, control their own destinies.
Long live Pan-Africanism!
Long live anti-imperialism!
Long live socialism!
