2006 07 04 book reviews

This book uses Kenya to advance an argument that individuals can force repressive regimes to change politically. Its focus is on the activities of selected Kenyan political activists that, for an assortment of reasons, were opposed to the regime of Daniel arap Moi who represented a negation of African aspirations at the time of independence in the 1960s. Press makes distinctions between resistance in the colonial days and resistance in post colonial days.

In the post-colonial days, individuals such as Wanyiri Kihoro tried to right a perceived wrong and started resistance to Moi’s repressive rule. The international media publicized torture in Kenya and the timing of the publicity, Press notes, was crucial. Individual actions broke Moi’s aura of invisibility as a result of informal networks of activists who met in ‘war rooms’ to strategise and develop new tactics that included using courts as political battlegrounds.

Success by individuals attracted ‘professional’ activists who organized NGOs and political parties and were dependent on Western ‘donors’. Press observes that ‘donors’ were not always honest.

This book, although technical in its approach, is enlightening. Press notes the lasting influence of colonial repression policies on post-colonial governments, the role of individuals, the transformation of human rights activists into government policy makers, the value of informal networks to individuals, and the conducive climate that is necessary for change. His stress on the evolution of the culture of resistance based on the activities of genuine individuals, and the fact that domestic forces were more important than external pressures, gives credit where credit is due. It shows that individuals can make a difference and that ‘donors’ are not reliable.

The book, however, has a number of weaknesses. There are factual errors that could have been avoided. Substantive weakness is in the effort to down play international forces. Press virtually ignores the international changes that made it conducive for media to take interest in human rights issues in Kenya.

Individuals who the media used to dismiss as ‘Marxists’ were transformed into human rights workers. A shift had occurred in the international political climate and since the Western media reflect Western interests, that shift accounts for the change in media attitudes. It would explain the proliferation of NGOs many of which, Press notes, became money makers. This contextualization is missing. But despite the short comings, this book is useful and brings back memories of peculiar experiences in Kenya. It is a book that should be read by those who are interested in the value of individual determination to change the course of events in a positive way. He should think of coming up with an updated edition.