Kenya People's Union
Encyclopedia
Kenya People's Union was a socialist political party in Kenya
led by Oginga Odinga. The party was banned in 1969.
(KANU) left the party and formed the KPU . KPU was particularly popular among the Luo people
in Nyanza province, as opposed to then Kikuyu-dominated KANU .
The end of the party culminated when the New Nyanza General Hospital was opened on October 25, 1969. The president Jomo Kenyatta
was not excited about the hospital, since it was built with Soviet money and seen as Odinga's project. Kenyatta did, however, lead the opening ceremonies of the hospital to to boost his popularity in Nyanza Province
. The Luo
's were generally hostile towards as Tom Mboya
had been murdered few months earlier, with many fingers pointing at Kenyatta. Riots opened at the opening ceremonies, when KPU supporters attacked Kenyatta's entourage. Over 10 people were killed as Kenyatta's security personnel opened a fire against the demonstrators. Odinga and several other KPU officials were arrested two days after the incident. KPU was banned on October 30, 1969, transforming Kenya into one-party state .
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
led by Oginga Odinga. The party was banned in 1969.
History
In March 1966 a left-wing faction of the governing Kenya African National UnionKenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
(KANU) left the party and formed the KPU . KPU was particularly popular among the Luo people
Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)
The Luo are an ethnic group in Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. They are part of a larger group of ethnolinguistically related Luo peoples who inhabit an area including southern Sudan, northern and eastern Uganda, western Kenya, and northern Tanzania.The Luo are the third largest...
in Nyanza province, as opposed to then Kikuyu-dominated KANU .
The end of the party culminated when the New Nyanza General Hospital was opened on October 25, 1969. The president Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
was not excited about the hospital, since it was built with Soviet money and seen as Odinga's project. Kenyatta did, however, lead the opening ceremonies of the hospital to to boost his popularity in Nyanza Province
Nyanza Province
Nyanza Province of Kenya, is one of Kenya's eight administrative provinces. It is located in the southwest part of Kenya around Lake Victoria. Nyanza includes part of the eastern edge of Lake Victoria and is inhabited predominantly by the Luo. There are also Bantu-speaking tribes such as the...
. The Luo
Luo (Kenya and Tanzania)
The Luo are an ethnic group in Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. They are part of a larger group of ethnolinguistically related Luo peoples who inhabit an area including southern Sudan, northern and eastern Uganda, western Kenya, and northern Tanzania.The Luo are the third largest...
's were generally hostile towards as Tom Mboya
Tom Mboya
Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya was a prominent Kenyan politician during Jomo Kenyatta's government. He was founder of the Nairobi People's Congress Party, a key figure in the formation of the Kenya African National Union , and the Minister of Economic Planning and Development at the time of his death...
had been murdered few months earlier, with many fingers pointing at Kenyatta. Riots opened at the opening ceremonies, when KPU supporters attacked Kenyatta's entourage. Over 10 people were killed as Kenyatta's security personnel opened a fire against the demonstrators. Odinga and several other KPU officials were arrested two days after the incident. KPU was banned on October 30, 1969, transforming Kenya into one-party state .
KPU politicians
The following politicians were affiliated with KPU. In the parenthesis is the constituency they represented .- Okudo Bala (NyandoNyando ConstituencyNyando is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Nyando District.The constituency was established for the 1963 elections, but for the next election the Nyakach Constituency was split out of it...
) - Ondiek Chilo (NyakachNyakach ConstituencyNyakach is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Nyando District. The constituency has nine wards, all electing councillors for the Nyando County Council....
) - Bildad KaggiaBildad KaggiaBildad Mwaganu Kaggia was a Kenyan nationalist, freedom-fighter, and politician.-Early life:Kaggia was born in 1922, at Dagoretti, now part of Nairobi, where his father had moved from his home district of Muranga District....
(KandaraKandara ConstituencyKandara Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Maragua District, Central Province. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
) - Luke Rarieya Obok (AlegoAlego ConstituencyAlego Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Siaya District. The constituency was established for the 1963 national elections. It is also known as Alego-Usonga Constituency...
) - John Odero-Sar (UgenyaUgenya ConstituencyUgenya Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Siaya District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
) - Oginga Odinga (BondoBondo ConstituencyBondo Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of two constituencies in Bondo District.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
) - Tom Obok Odongo (Kisumu RuralKisumu Rural ConstituencyKisumu Rural Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Kisumu District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections. The constituency has eight wards, all of which elect councillors for Kisumu County Council.The constituency was previously...
) - George Fredrick Oduya (Elgon West)
- Achieng OnekoAchieng OnekoRamogi Achieng Oneko was a Kenyan freedom fighter and a politician. In Kenya, he is considered as a national hero.He was born in Tieng'a village in Uyoma sub-location in Bondo District in 1920 and educated at Maseno School.- Detention :...
(Nakuru TownNakuru Town ConstituencyNakuru Town Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nakuru District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections. The entire constituency is located within Nakuru municipality....
) - Joseph Mwasia Nthula (Iveti South)
- Wasonga Sijeyo (GemGem ConstituencyGem Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Siaya District. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
)