Booker Ngesa
| National Deputy Chairperson | The Communist Party of Kenya |
|---|---|
| Member of the Central Committee.[1] | |
| Born | 25 September 1982 |
| College | University of Nairobi, Mechanical Engineering[2] |
| Political position | Far-Left |
| Other roles in the Communist Party of Kenya | |
| National Organizing Secretary | |
| Finance Secretary: the Young Socialist League | |
| Notable Associations | |
| Mwandawiro Mghanga | |
| Benedict Wachira | |
Booker Ngesa Omole is a Kenyan communist politician and the current National Deputy Chairperson [3]of the Communist Party of Kenya. He is a Left-leaning Marxist-Leninist revolutionary political leader[4] who serves as a political pundit on K24 Television.
Booker was born in 1982 in Gem Constituency, Siaya county Kenya. He studied engineering at the University of Nairobi and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.[2] Booker’s rise into national politics was propelled by his activism, particularly the protests against corruption[5] and agitations for worker’s rights[6] and through his efforts to provide an alternative political voice[7] in Kenyan politics and style of leadership and governance.
Politics
Booker, like many revolutionary politicians in Kenya[8], first got into politics when he was a student at the University of Nairobi. He was a student representative for the Engineering department at the University of Nairobi Students’ Parliament, SONU. As a student leader, he organized several protests against the rising tuition fees and against the introduction of the Privately Sponsored Students Program (PSSP) also known as Parallel Degree programs in the university.[9]
While he was at the University, Booker joined the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP), where he became a member of the Young Socialist League (YSL), which was the youth arm of SDP where he served with among others, Benedict Wachira, who is the current Secretary General of the Communist Party of Kenya.
In 2011, Booker Ngesa together with Benedict Wachira and Mwandawiro Mghanga won a petition[10] with the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal [11]that gave the Mwandawiro faction legal control over the Social Democratic Party of Kenya. The win by the Mwandawiro Mghanga’s faction was considered an ideological victory between liberal and socialist factions that had emerged in the party’s leadership.
Following the legal victory, the new party leadership and members of the central committee convened a National Congress that passed the resolution that the party was committed to scientific socialism, and Booker was elected the Organizing Organizing Secretary [12]of the Social Democratic Party of Kenya. After approval of the party’s ideology with the Registrar of Political Parties, the party officially moved to become practicing communists. In 2019, the party convened to change its name in accordance with the 2011 Political Parties Act, to become the Communist Party of Kenya[13]. Booker retained the position of National Organizing Secretary[14] and later became the National Deputy Chairman in 2021.
Political Campaigns
Besides party affairs with the Communist Party of Kenya, Booker is an active politician.
- In the 2013 Kenyan General Elections, Booker campaigned to become the Member of Parliament for Gem Constituency. He finished third[15] after Washington Jakoyo Midiwo (MP, winner) and Elisha Ochieng who finished second.
- In the 2017 Kenyan General Elections, Booker campaigned to become the Member of Parliament for Gem Constituency. He finished third[16] after Elisha Ochieng (MP) and Washington Jakoyo Midiwo who finished second.
- In 2021, Booker was reported to be among the contestants[17] seeking to become the position of Member of Parliament for Gem Constituency in the next Kenyan general elections slated for August 2022.
Activism
Booker, operating under the ideology-oriented Communist Party of Kenya, has taken a revolutionary approach[18] to promote issues that advance class struggle for the working class and the poor within the Kenyan society.
On Corruption
Booker has taken a clear anti-corruption crusade to fight the prevalent corruption in Kenya's in political leadership and across most governments by leading several anti-corruption activities. His anti corruption campaigns have been staged on both local and national levels in Kenya[19].
In 2020, Booker organized protests[20] against mismanagement of the Gem NG CDF funds, which happened in his home constituency. The protests[21] culminated with the case being taken up as a corruption case by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, EACC at the Kisumu High Court. The incident was highlighted as a successful citizen-led activism in the fight against corruption in Kenya.
In 2021, Booker, under the Communist Party of Kenya banner, and other partners came together and successfully presented a legal case to fight the lack of transparency and allegations of corruption in the renovations and Uhuru Park[22] by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, which is the Nairobi County government. In December 2021 the court granted the petitions to halt the[23] renovations works after the Judge found that NMS the renovation work lacked the authority and approval of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema). in December 2021 until a full hearing in February 2022 to determine of due process has been followed, whether the project was publicly owned and whether the Park would be accessible to the public after the renovations were completed[23].
On Uhuru Kenyatta Government
Booker has spoken out against what he calls the Uhuru Kenyatta Government's pro-IMF policies[24], which do not seem to benefit Kenyans. He has led discussions and protests against the unscientific approach to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Uhuru Kenyatta government. He supported the government's call to the business community warning the business community not to take advantage of the pandemic and lockdowns by increasing prices[25].
Booker was a strong critic[26] of the Government-led BBI Constitutional Amendment Process saying it subverted the spirit of the Constitution. He led protests against BBI and the called out the government for passing the document without public participation. Booker called for the government and BBI proponents to instead, focus on restorative justice. He came out in support of the High Court ruling that struck down the BBI Constitutional Amendment.
On the fourth liberation movement
Booker is a member of the Fourth Liberation Movement of Kenya[27], which is a political organizing movement composed many parties and affiliations to provide alternative leadership and political options for Kenyans.
As a leader in the movement[28], Booker has spoken out about the prevailing social injustice and corruption perpetrated upon the people of Kenya. He has called on the government to implement the recommendations found in the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission’s (TJRC) report to address land issues, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances facing Kenyans[29]. As egalitarian leaders and a revolutionary, Booker believes that equality and justice will only happen when Kenyans come together to fight for their rights by electing leaders who will fight for those rights, address historical injustices and end corruption from Kenya’s government structures.[28]
Workers’ rights
Booker is an outspoken advocate on the class struggle of Kenyan workers who produce the wealth of the nation. His prescriptive advocacy[30] draws contrast between the European style-capitalist systems and the organized government systems like those in China in his call for a scientific approach[31] when dealing with critical issues such as worker layoffs (during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns) and the mass unemployment in Kenya. "The coronavirus has exposed the gaping deficiencies of an imperialist system and brought an opportunity for progressives. It is time African governments start adopting socialist policies that insist on service to the people as opposed to profiteering. Currently, countries like China, Cuba and Russia are the ones sending doctors across the globe and aid, like protective equipment and testing kits, to poor countries," Omole said.
He said that the manner in which Western countries have handled the pandemic has been an expose on the failure of current capitalist institutions that have proven their inability to take leadership in times of crisis.
Scientific Approach to Communism
Booker is a student of revolution and a life-long sympathizer for causes against oppressive regimes and forced occupation. He is a member of solidarity organization and an advocate for socialist movements in the global South.[32] Booker, who is a staunch Leftist revolutionary has been critical of the oppressive copy-paste policies[24] that have been implemented by successive regimes in Africa. Booker reiterated that capitalist policies have been detrimental to Kenya's economy as they do not align with the people's culture.[33] As such, Booker has been pushing for Kenya to move Left and offered China as a good example for Kenya and Africa to learn and understand how to apply the scientific approach to socialism. To achieve true decolonization, China offers the logistical, economic and ideological benchmark that can convince Africa to move away from capitalist regimes and its effect on the African continent.
Controversies and legal battles
Booker’s activism, protests and demonstrations, and revolutionary campaigns have led to a series of legal battles including arrests and fines.
Protests and Arrests
In 2021, Booker and other members of the Communist Party of Kenya participated in protests against the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that were taken by the Uhuru Kenyatta government. During the demonstrations several party members were arrested and later the police seized party property from the CPK headquarters.[34]
On 23 September 2020, with the support of the Communist Party of Kenya, Booker organized demonstrations in Gem constituency to protest the misuse of Gem Constituency's NGCDF funds. The protests turned violent and the police used tear gas on the protestors.[35]
Defamation fines
In 2020, the Siaya High Court ordered Booker to pay Ksh 6 million[36] for defaming Elisha Ochieng’ who is the Member of Parliament for Gem Constituency. Booker had spoken out against the Member of Parliament in a series of social media posts where he alleged mismanagement of the Gem Constituency NG CDF funds that were under the stewardship of Elisha Ochieng’.
University of Nairobi student riots
In 2014, Booker, alongside eleven students from the University of Nairobi were arrested for causing a disturbance the UoN’s Kabete Campus[37]. The charges brought after the arrest alleged that the students shot in the air - using Booker's licensed gun - to disrupt ongoing campaigns for students union leadership positions at the Lower Kabete campus. The accused denied the charges before a Nairobi Magistrate and were released on bail before the matter was later dismissed for lack of evidence.
More reading
Communist Party of Kenya
Communist Political Parties
Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service[38]
Politics in Gem[39]
References
- ↑ The Communist Party of Kenya (21 June 2019). "CENTRAL COMMITTEE 2019". The Communist Party of Kenya. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Engineers Board of Kenya. "Registered Graduate Engineers". Engineers Board of Kenya. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kenya, The Communist Party (21 June 2019). "CENTRAL COMMITTEE 2019". Communist Party of Kenya. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Otieno, Kepher (6 February 2021). "Nyanza leaders hold strategy meeting to drum support for BBI". The Standard Media.
- ↑ News, K24 (29 July 2021). "Communist Party Of Kenya Stands Out As It Becomes First Political Party To Hold A Legislator Accountable". K24.
- ↑ Kulkarni, Pavan (9 April 2021). "Court hearing of Communist Party of Kenya members postponed to Monday". Peoples Dispatch.
- ↑ Mnyamwezi, Renson (20 July 2021). "Communist party joins coastal coalition talks". The Standard Media.
- ↑ Jared, Too (2017). "10 famous politicians whose politics started in campus". The Standard Media.
- ↑ Aineah, Agnes (2 May 2019). "Torturous journey that birthed student union". The Standard Media.
- ↑ Wekesa, Chrispinus (21 Dec 2011). "SDP Faction Wins Suit Against Kagwe, Katuku". The Star.
- ↑ "POLITICAL PARTIES DISPUTES TRIBUNAL". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "The Central Committee of the Social Democratic Party of Kenya" (PDF). The Communist Party of Kenya. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Ukaya, Brian (12 March 2019). "Social Democratic Party of Kenya changes name to Communist Party of Kenya". The Standard Media.
- ↑ "CENTRAL COMMITTEE 2019". The Communist Party of Kenya. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (17 April 2014). "4TH MARCH 2013 GENERAL ELECTION: Election Data" (PDF). IEBC Website. p. 172. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ IEBC Data Report of 2017 Elections (April 2020). "IEBC-Data-Report-of-2017-Elections-April-2020.pdf" (PDF). IEBC Website. p. 99. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Baraza, Lameck (14 July 2022). "Prepare to lose in 2022 election, Gem MP tells opponents". The Star.
- ↑ Leader (13 March 2019). "Communist Party can bring radical change". The Star.
- ↑ Kenya, The Standard (2 February 2021). "Communist Party of Kenya leader Booker Ngesa leading a match to EACC offices in Kisumu to condemn corruption in Gem and to popularize his party in Kisumu. They however reject BBI". Standard Digital Twitter Page. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Pick, Editors (23 September 2020). "Scores Injured As Goons Disrupt Anti-Corruption Procession". Kenya News Agency.
- ↑ "Communist Party Makes A Difference By Holding Gem Legislator Accountable For CDF Funds". Corporates Kenya. 28 July 2021.
- ↑ Omondi, Asher (7 December 2021). "High Court Stops Renovation of Uhuru Park, Cites Lack of Public Participation". Tuko News.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Wangui, Joseph (8 December 2021). "Court stops Uhuru Park renovation after outcry". Business Daily.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Dispatch, Peoples (13 April 2021). "Kenya's communists fight state repression, IMF-World Bank policies". Peoples Dispatch.
- ↑ Amata, Kamadi (1 April 2020). "Protect Kenyans from Covid-19, CPK Party Demands…". Mtaani Radio.
- ↑ Kenya, The Communisty Party of. "COMMUNIST PARTY OF KENYA CALLS ON ALL KENYANS TO REJECT THE BBI PROJECT" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kenya, The Communist Party. "ROAD TOWARDS FORMING A UNITED FRONT OF LEFTIST POLITICAL PARTIES AND MOVEMENTS/ORGANISATIONS". The Communist Party of Kenya. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 28.0 28.1 Mnyamwezi, Renson (20 July 2021). "Communist party joins coastal coalition talks". The Standard Media.
- ↑ Makong, Bruhan (17 November 2021). "Mutunga, Other Activists Vow To Ensure Miguna's Return To Kenya". Capital FM.
- ↑ Opali, Otiato (26 May 2020). "Political party in Kenya goes online to carry on mobilization". China Daily.
- ↑ Henix (31 March 2020). "Pull up your socks, CPK to government". 47Radio.
- ↑ Hammer, Tureyel (2 February 2021). "Black Hammer Meets with the Communist Party of Kenya". Black Hammer. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Vitchek, Andre (4 August 2018). "Africa: Revolutionary Intellectuals 'Inspired By Latin America". TeleSUR.
- ↑ Kulkarni, Pavan (9 April 2021). "Court hearing of Communist Party of Kenya members postponed to Monday". Peoples Dispatch.
- ↑ Defenders, Defend (November 2020). "OVERVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA". Defend Defenders. May - November 2020: 22.
- ↑ Civil Suit E1 of 2020. "Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo v Booker Ngesa Omole [2021] eKLR". Kenya Law. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ OCHIENG, ABIUD (11 April 2014). "Gun drama as students fight for top Sonu posts". Nairobi News.
- ↑ Advance africa. "Joint Admission Board of Kenya (JAB) Replaced by KUCCPS". Advance Africa.
- ↑ Oloo, Onyango (21 August 2013). "Oduol vs. Oduor in Gubernatorial Face Off in Siaya?". Demockrasia Kenya.
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