Koigi wa Wamwere

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Koigi wa Wamwere is one of Kenya's leading writers and human rights activists. Wa Wamwere was born in Nakuru Province, Kenya. He attended Cornell University (U.S.) as a special student in hotel administration in 1971. The following year, he returned to Kenya to push for economic and political change in his homeland. His outspoken criticism of Kenya's human rights record and activism for landless Kenyans incurred the anger of the Kenyan government. In 1979, he was elected to parliament and served for three years. Since 1972, the government has imprisoned wa Wamwere four times. Most recently, he was arrested in 1993 and, after a trial widely believed to be staged, sentenced to four years in prison. (Wa Wamwere wrote about this incident in Justice on Trial.) He was released in 1996 for medical reasons.
"I prefer to die fighting for freedom, rather than living a life in chains"
Koigi wa Wamwere was born in 1949, when Kenya was still a British colony, and he did thus follow Kenya's way to independence. After leaving school, he worked as a teacher and as a bank clerk. It was not until his studies at Cornell University in the United States that his political involvement aroused. According to Koigi wa Wamwere himself, he "discovered his political self" through the books and speeches of famous freedom fighters and activists struggling for civil rights for the individual such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X., and John Kennedy. These political publications did further make him realise how important strong political awareness is for a society, if one is to avoid oppression and exploitation.
Koigi wa Wamwere has devoted his life to struggling for political reforms, democracy, multipartism, free and just elections for Kenya, and against dictatorship, corruption, torture, killings, imprisonment and exile for Kenyans struggling for a democratic and free Kenya. He has spent a total of 13 years in prison - both under former president Kenyatta and under dictator Arap Moi - for his struggle for political change and democracy in Kenya. In Kenya, Koigi is often compared to president Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who managed to bring South Africa's apartheid rule to an end by way of peaceful means.
The trial against Koigi wa Wamwere in 1993 is perhaps the most well-known fact about Koigi here in Norway - Norwegian young people included. After having been kidnapped from Uganda in 1990 by Kenya's security forces, he was charged with attempts to overthrow Arap Moi's one-party dictatorship (high treason). The charges were dropped in January, 1993, but Koigi was arrested again in November, 1993, and this time he was charged with attempts to rob a police station for the purpose of getting weapons to be used in a coup d'état aiming at overthrowing Arap Moi's regime. These charges could result in death penalty for Koigi, and also for his brother and his brother in law, who also were charged. Thanks to a strong international pressure, the sentence was amended from death penalty to four years of imprisonment, and to torture in the form of cane strokes which at the worst may lead to death.
Today, Koigi is back in Norway and together with his family, but will soon return to Kenya to continue the struggle for freedom and democracy, and human rights for the individual. This is a struggle to which Koigi has devoted his life, and for which he also is willing to give his life - if necessary. Koigi wa Wamwere's ability to continue his struggle for freedom and democracy in Kenya is also relevant and of importance for young people here in Norway. Not least by way of keeping Koigi's name and work known, and by way of supporting his cause, can we make it difficult for Kenya's dictatorship to gag the struggle of the Kenyans for freedom and democracy by way of disregarding, detaining or executing Koigi wa Wamwere and his co-activists.
Koigi wa Wamwere can also contribute much to making us here in Norway more aware of our responsibilities in terms of safeguarding democracy. We do perhaps tend to take democracy, freedom of expression and human rights for the individual for granted, and we do forget that we ourselves and our ability to independent and critical thinking are the most important preconditions for making democracy function in practice. Why so many young people choose not to use the right they are given to influence their own future through parliamentary elections is a question of concern to both Koigi wa Wamwere and to us involved in the 1997 Electoral Action. The right to vote is one of the most important democratic conditions we have, and it is therefore also important that Norwegian youth make use of this right - and this is the backgroung for the initiative taken by Koigi wa Wamwere and us from the 1997 Electoral Action to launch this Net conference.

Koigi wa Wamwere

Koigi is greeted by his family after his release from Kenyan prison

Books:
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1:
The Ethnicity Bomb: Ethnicity as A Weapon of Mass Self-destruction in Africa.
This book explains ethnicity in Africa: what it is and who exploits it. Analysing ethnicity from both a historical and contemporary perspectives, the author shows how it undermines human rights and democratisation, plays an important role in civil wars and genocide, and props up dictatorships. wa Wamwere argues that by threatening the stability of nation states, the doctrine of ethnicity in Africa is contributing to a post-colonial re-division of the continent as spoils for the ethnic elite.
There is no other book written by an African that deals with ethnicity in such depth and with such honesty.
Publication: Will be issued by Pax Pubishers in January, 2001.

2:
Tears of The Heart: A Portrait of Racism in Norway and Europe.
This is a thorough account of racism in Norway, Sweden and Europe as experienced by its black victims. It is also an analysis of its historical roots, why it might prove catastrophic soon if nothing is done to arrest its fast spread now and what needs to be done to remedy its ravages. The book also explains why of all nations, Norway cannot afford to let racism take root in its soil.
Publication: The book will be issued in September by Aschehoug Publishers.

Hjertets tårer, the Norwegian version of Tears of The Heart

Other books:
3:
A Dream of Freedom Author: Koigi wa Wamwere
Wa Wamwere wrote A Dream of Freedom during his most recent imprisonment. The book is his semi-autobiographical story of a young Kenyan called Macaria wa Kihooto, which literally means "seeker of justice." According to wa Wamwere, the book "was to be my last testament to my people and to the world if I was sentenced and hanged by President Moi's dictatorship."
The manuscript for A Dream of Freedom was smuggled out of the prison where wa Wamwere was detained. It was first published in Norwegian by Aschehoug Publishers in Norway. In 1997, Views Media in Kenya published A Dream of Freedom in English.
A Dream of Freedom copyright © Koigi wa wa Wamwere. All rights reserved. Excerpts republished courtesy of Views Media, P.O. Box 50041, Nairobi, Kenya. Telephone: +(254-2) 630866. For more information, contact Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA).
Excerpts from A Dream of Freedom
Witness no. 1: Macaria dreams of a new Kenya.
Witness no. 12: While studying in the U.S., Macaria learns about Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
Witness no. 13: Macaria and his wife discuss whether they should continue living in the U.S. or return to their native Kenya.
Witness no. 17: Macaria's neighbor Adili and his wife argue about Macaria's political activism in Kenya.
RELATED MATERIAL

Justice on Trial , wa Wamwere's story of his most recent arrest, trial, and imprisonment
Amnesty International report (June 6, 1998): "Kenya: Political Violence Spirals"
Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA)

Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright © 1999 Digital Freedom Network. All rights reserved.

Koigi wa Wamwere is met by supporters demonstrating for human rights in Kenya

4:
Conscience on trial: why I was detained: notes of a political prisoner in Kenya
Published: Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press [1988]
Subjects: Koigi wa Wamwere; Political prisoners - Kenya; Trials (political crimes and offenses) - Kenya
Description: xviii, 143 p., 22 cm.
Call #: DT433.582.K81.A3 1988
>

5:
The people's representative and the tyrants, or, Kenya, Inderpendence without freedom
Other Titles:
Koigi wa Wamwere. Kenya, independence without freedom
Published: Nairobi: New Concept Typesetters, 1992.
Subjects: Koigi wa Wamwere; Moi, Daniel arap, 1924; Political persecution-Kenya; Kenya-Politics and government-1963-1978; Kenya-Politics and government-1978-
Description: ix, 182 p., 21 cm.
Notes: Cover title: Koigi wa Wamwere
Call #: DT433.584.K65x 1992

6:
A woman reborn
Published: Nairobi: Speak Books, 1980.
Description: 72 p., 19 cm.
Call #: PR9269.2.K78.W8

Current Positions
1. East African Regional Co-ordinator of Africonsult ACT - The African Consulting Team on the use of African Culture in the Fight Against Aids - Norway
2. Executive Director of National Democratic and Human Rights Organisation (Ndehurio - Kenya).
Other Links:
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www.spidergraphics.com/khr/
www.dfn.org

Lectures/ Seminars/ Conferences/Interviews:
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For a fee of 5000 Norwegian kroner (within Norway) and 5000 US dollars plus travel and accomodation (outside Norway), Koigi is available to give lectures and interviews on the following subjects:
a)Ethnicity Bomb in Africa.
b)Black Experience of Racism in Norway and Europe.
c)Dictatorship in Africa.
d)Roots of Corruption in Africa.
e)African culture in the fight against AIDS.
g)Political trials in Africa.
h)Culture of Violating Human Rights in Africa.
i) Land Reform in Africa
j) The Art of Survival in an African Prison.
Contacts:
e-mail: wamwere@online.no
Hosted by:

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Koigi wa Wamwere is one of Kenya's leading writers and human rights activists. Wa Wamwere was born in Nakuru Province, Kenya. He attended Cornell University (U.S.) as a special student in hotel administration in 1971. The following year, he returned to Kenya to push for economic and political change in his homeland. His outspoken criticism of Kenya's human rights record and activism for landless Kenyans incurred the anger of the Kenyan government. In 1979, he was elected to parliament and served for three years. Since 1972, the government has imprisoned wa Wamwere four times. Most recently, he was arrested in 1993 and, after a trial widely believed to be staged, sentenced to four years in prison. (Wa Wamwere wrote about this incident in Justice on Trial.) He was released in 1996 for medical reasons. "I prefer to die fighting for freedom, rather than living a life in chains" Koigi wa Wamwere was born in 1949, when Kenya was still a British colony, and he did thus follow Kenya's way to independence. After leaving school, he worked as a teacher and as a bank clerk. It was not until his studies at Cornell University in the United States that his political involvement aroused. According to Koigi wa Wamwere himself, he "discovered his political self" through the books and speeches of famous freedom fighters and activists struggling for civil rights for the individual such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X., and John Kennedy. These political publications did further make him realise how important strong political awareness is for a society, if one is to avoid oppression and exploitation. Koigi wa Wamwere has devoted his life to struggling for political reforms, democracy, multipartism, free and just elections for Kenya, and against dictatorship, corruption, torture, killings, imprisonment and exile for Kenyans struggling for a democratic and free Kenya. He has spent a total of 13 years in prison - both under former president Kenyatta and under dictator Arap Moi - for his struggle for political change and democracy in Kenya. In Kenya, Koigi is often compared to president Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who managed to bring South Africa's apartheid rule to an end by way of peaceful means. The trial against Koigi wa Wamwere in 1993 is perhaps the most well-known fact about Koigi here in Norway - Norwegian young people included. After having been kidnapped from Uganda in 1990 by Kenya's security forces, he was charged with attempts to overthrow Arap Moi's one-party dictatorship (high treason). The charges were dropped in January, 1993, but Koigi was arrested again in November, 1993, and this time he was charged with attempts to rob a police station for the purpose of getting weapons to be used in a coup d'état aiming at overthrowing Arap Moi's regime. These charges could result in death penalty for Koigi, and also for his brother and his brother in law, who also were charged. Thanks to a strong international pressure, the sentence was amended from death penalty to four years of imprisonment, and to torture in the form of cane strokes which at the worst may lead to death. Today, Koigi is back in Norway and together with his family, but will soon return to Kenya to continue the struggle for freedom and democracy, and human rights for the individual. This is a struggle to which Koigi has devoted his life, and for which he also is willing to give his life - if necessary. Koigi wa Wamwere's ability to continue his struggle for freedom and democracy in Kenya is also relevant and of importance for young people here in Norway. Not least by way of keeping Koigi's name and work known, and by way of supporting his cause, can we make it difficult for Kenya's dictatorship to gag the struggle of the Kenyans for freedom and democracy by way of disregarding, detaining or executing Koigi wa Wamwere and his co-activists. Koigi wa Wamwere can also contribute much to making us here in Norway more aware of our responsibilities in terms of safeguarding democracy. We do perhaps tend to take democracy, freedom of expression and human rights for the individual for granted, and we do forget that we ourselves and our ability to independent and critical thinking are the most important preconditions for making democracy function in practice. Why so many young people choose not to use the right they are given to influence their own future through parliamentary elections is a question of concern to both Koigi wa Wamwere and to us involved in the 1997 Electoral Action. The right to vote is one of the most important democratic conditions we have, and it is therefore also important that Norwegian youth make use of this right - and this is the backgroung for the initiative taken by Koigi wa Wamwere and us from the 1997 Electoral Action to launch this Net conference.	Koigi wa Wamwere Koigi is greeted by his family after his release from Kenyan prison
Books: Back to top 1: The Ethnicity Bomb: Ethnicity as A Weapon of Mass Self-destruction in Africa. This book explains ethnicity in Africa: what it is and who exploits it. Analysing ethnicity from both a historical and contemporary perspectives, the author shows how it undermines human rights and democratisation, plays an important role in civil wars and genocide, and props up dictatorships. wa Wamwere argues that by threatening the stability of nation states, the doctrine of ethnicity in Africa is contributing to a post-colonial re-division of the continent as spoils for the ethnic elite. There is no other book written by an African that deals with ethnicity in such depth and with such honesty. Publication: Will be issued by Pax Pubishers in January, 2001.
2: Tears of The Heart: A Portrait of Racism in Norway and Europe. This is a thorough account of racism in Norway, Sweden and Europe as experienced by its black victims. It is also an analysis of its historical roots, why it might prove catastrophic soon if nothing is done to arrest its fast spread now and what needs to be done to remedy its ravages. The book also explains why of all nations, Norway cannot afford to let racism take root in its soil. Publication: The book will be issued in September by Aschehoug Publishers.	Hjertets tårer, the Norwegian version of Tears of The Heart
Other books: 3: A Dream of Freedom Author: Koigi wa Wamwere Wa Wamwere wrote A Dream of Freedom during his most recent imprisonment. The book is his semi-autobiographical story of a young Kenyan called Macaria wa Kihooto, which literally means "seeker of justice." According to wa Wamwere, the book "was to be my last testament to my people and to the world if I was sentenced and hanged by President Moi's dictatorship." The manuscript for A Dream of Freedom was smuggled out of the prison where wa Wamwere was detained. It was first published in Norwegian by Aschehoug Publishers in Norway. In 1997, Views Media in Kenya published A Dream of Freedom in English. A Dream of Freedom copyright © Koigi wa wa Wamwere. All rights reserved. Excerpts republished courtesy of Views Media, P.O. Box 50041, Nairobi, Kenya. Telephone: +(254-2) 630866. For more information, contact Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA). Excerpts from A Dream of Freedom Witness no. 1: Macaria dreams of a new Kenya. Witness no. 12: While studying in the U.S., Macaria learns about Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Witness no. 13: Macaria and his wife discuss whether they should continue living in the U.S. or return to their native Kenya. Witness no. 17: Macaria's neighbor Adili and his wife argue about Macaria's political activism in Kenya. RELATED MATERIAL Justice on Trial , wa Wamwere's story of his most recent arrest, trial, and imprisonment Amnesty International report (June 6, 1998): "Kenya: Political Violence Spirals" Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA) Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright © 1999 Digital Freedom Network. All rights reserved.	Koigi wa Wamwere is met by supporters demonstrating for human rights in Kenya
4: Conscience on trial: why I was detained: notes of a political prisoner in Kenya Published: Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press [1988] Subjects: Koigi wa Wamwere; Political prisoners - Kenya; Trials (political crimes and offenses) - Kenya Description: xviii, 143 p., 22 cm. Call #: DT433.582.K81.A3 1988	>
5: The people's representative and the tyrants, or, Kenya, Inderpendence without freedom Other Titles: Koigi wa Wamwere. Kenya, independence without freedom Published: Nairobi: New Concept Typesetters, 1992. Subjects: Koigi wa Wamwere; Moi, Daniel arap, 1924; Political persecution-Kenya; Kenya-Politics and government-1963-1978; Kenya-Politics and government-1978- Description: ix, 182 p., 21 cm. Notes: Cover title: Koigi wa Wamwere Call #: DT433.584.K65x 1992
6: A woman reborn Published: Nairobi: Speak Books, 1980. Description: 72 p., 19 cm. Call #: PR9269.2.K78.W8 Current Positions 1. East African Regional Co-ordinator of Africonsult ACT - The African Consulting Team on the use of African Culture in the Fight Against Aids - Norway 2. Executive Director of National Democratic and Human Rights Organisation (Ndehurio - Kenya). Other Links: Back to top www.spidergraphics.com/khr/ www.dfn.org
Lectures/ Seminars/ Conferences/Interviews: Back to top For a fee of 5000 Norwegian kroner (within Norway) and 5000 US dollars plus travel and accomodation (outside Norway), Koigi is available to give lectures and interviews on the following subjects: a)Ethnicity Bomb in Africa. b)Black Experience of Racism in Norway and Europe. c)Dictatorship in Africa. d)Roots of Corruption in Africa. e)African culture in the fight against AIDS. g)Political trials in Africa. h)Culture of Violating Human Rights in Africa. i) Land Reform in Africa j) The Art of Survival in an African Prison. Contacts: e-mail: wamwere@online.no Hosted by: Back to top