Word: kenyattas
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Teetering between the rival factions in Kenya's one-party government, President Jomo Kenyatta for months let pro-Communist Vice President Oginga Odinga have his way more often than seemed wise. For one thing, Moscow had financed the Lumumba Institute seven miles outside Nairobi, providing two Russian instructors in the Leninist art of political action. Then Odinga negotiated a deal for a shipload of Soviet arms for Kenya, which the Russians seemed only too eager to provide absolutely free of charge. Odinga meanwhile hustled around making anti-Western speeches, and verbally sniping at the more moderate members of Kenyatta...
Last week Jomo decided that enough was enough. In a brisk series of actions, Kenyatta made it clear to Odinga and the Communists that his regime had a different direction in mind. Among them...
...woolly catch phrase so beloved of African speechmakers. Remarkably restrained and reasoned, it rejects 19th century capitalism and 20th century Communism as a model for emergent African society. Instead, the document points to a mixed economy very like modern Britain or Sweden, strongly emphasizes individual political freedoms. Though Kenyatta insisted that the paper, written by Economics Planning Minister Tom Mboya, was approved by all his Cabinet, it was clearly a bitter blow for Odinga...
Last week came news that Kenyatta was expecting a shipment of Russian arms, but before anyone could jump to the conclusion that the former Mau Mau chieftain had thrown his lot in with the Communists, Security Minister Mungai rushed out a statement reassuring everyone that there was nothing pernicious about the deal. "Kenya will continue to buy arms and ammunition from West or East as long as they are suitable and carry the right price," he said...
...Kenyatta himself went even farther. "Some fellows who have been to the Communist countries come back here and tell lies about everything being free," he told a public rally in Muranga. "Well, I personally have been to Moscow University, and I can assure you that even in Russia no one gets anything for nothing." Then, in a scarcely veiled warning to Odinga, he added: "I fought the colonialists with all my strength, and if any African wants to fight...