13/05/2026
The Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) condemns the assault and arrest of people attending the peaceful demonstration against imperialism today in Nairobi, including our Chair Joti Brar, and demands their immediate release. The demonstrators were attending an conference against imperialism in Africa, and included local Kenyan as well as international delegates.
Kenyan police, doing the work of their Anglo-French imperialist masters, brutally attacked the peaceful demonstration protesting the France-Africa “Africa Forward” summit being held in Nairobi today and arrested many of the attendees.
The demonstration route was agreed beforehand with the police, and was not allowed to go near the venue for the French imperialist summit. The demonstration instead headed towards Uhuru Park which contains a memorial for the Mau Mau movement that fought against British colonial rule.
After 30 minutes of peaceful marching police cars began arriving, and the police started to tear down the demonstration’s banners. As the protestors continued marching police then fired tear gas and flash bang grenades at the demonstration. After the assault had died down the police swarmed in and took people away at gunpoint.
The Kenyan comprador regime reflects the fear and weakness of their imperialist masters, unable to tolerate even peaceful political opposition. They meet the truth with censorship, repression, and lies, and they meet unarmed people with tear gas, guns, and batons.
Their efforts are in vain and their wanton repression will only accelerate the demands for justice, peace, and dignity from working people.
Long live the international solidarity of workers and peasants!
We reproduce below the statement of the Communist Party Marxist - Kenya (CPMK) and stand with their demands:
STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF ANTI IMPERIALIST COMRADES IN NAIROBI
The Central Organising Committee of the Communist Party Marxist Kenya strongly condemns the arrests, intimidation and harassment carried out by the Kenyan state against local and international comrades who participated in the anti French imperialism demonstration and the counter summit held in Nairobi against the so called Africa Forward Summit.
These arrests expose the true character of the Ruto regime as a neocolonial and comprador administration acting in defence of imperialist interests against the democratic rights of the people. The regime has chosen to criminalise anti imperialist solidarity while rolling out the red carpet for foreign exploiters and agents of monopoly capital.
Among those arrested are distinguished anti imperialist and revolutionary activists, intellectuals and organisers from different parts of the world who came to stand in solidarity with the struggling masses of Africa against imperialism, militarisation and neocolonial domination.
Their only crime is standing with the oppressed. Their only crime is rejecting imperialist domination. Their only crime is declaring that Africa is not for sale.
The arrest of international delegates further demonstrates the growing panic within imperialist and comprador circles. They fear the unity of revolutionary and progressive forces across continents. They fear international solidarity against imperialism. They fear a politically conscious people.
We remind the Ruto regime that repression has never defeated the people’s struggle. Colonial detention camps did not defeat the liberation movement. Moi’s anti communist repression did not defeat the struggle for democratic rights. Fascist laws and police terror will not silence the masses today.
As Kwame Nkrumah taught us, the independence of Africa is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of the continent from imperialism and neocolonialism.
We therefore demand:
1. The immediate and unconditional release of all arrested comrades.
2. An end to police harassment, abductions and repression against activists, organisers and progressive movements.
3. The immediate halt to all imperialist military, political and economic agreements being imposed upon Kenya and Africa.
4. Respect for the democratic rights of all participants attending anti imperialist and Pan African gatherings.
The Communist Party Marxist Kenya reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with all arrested comrades. An injury to one is an injury to all. The struggle against imperialism is international, and no amount of repression shall defeat the organised masses of the people.
Forward ever in the struggle against imperialism!
Forward ever in international solidarity!
Victory belongs to the workers and peasants!
