The story of Tom Mboya; a trade unionist, independence activist, Pan African and an idol to many African youths

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Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya (1930 – 1969) is regarded as one of the most intelligent among Kenyan youths of his time. He earned ultimate respect and admiration for the role he played in Kenya’s struggle for independence and his contribution to Pan Africanism. Unlike most children of his time who grew up in their ancestral homes, Mboya was born and raised in Central Kenya where his father was working. Having interacted with more tribal groups, he grew up to become more of an African man.


Tom Mboya featured on the cover page of Times Magazine, in 1960.

Tom Mboya’s political and activism life

After he graduated from Ruskin College, Oxford, Mboya returned to Kenya at a time when the independence movement was intensifying. He first worked as a sanitary inspector in Nairobi city in 1950 before he was elected as the president of the African Staff Association (ASA). As a labour specialist, Mboya helped in molding the ASA into a labour union, the Kenya Local Government Workers’ Union where he later worked as the secretary-general.


In efforts by the colonial government to silence Kenya’s independence struggle, Jomo Kenyatta and other Kenya African Union (KAU) members were arrested in 1953. An agreement was reached among them to have Tom Mboya take over and lead the struggle. However, the colonial government banned KAU, and Mboya continued to use trade unions in championing for independence.


Mboya's influence on the International arena

Tom Mboya later became the secretary-general of the Kenya Federation of Labour (KFL) where he organized several strikes demanding better working conditions for African workers. He also traveled to Britain and USA giving speeches against colonialism. He used this opportunity to make friends with international trade unionists including American A. Philip Randolph, this made it possible to raise money to build the KFL headquarters.


In 1956, Tom Mboya was elected to the Kenyan Legislative Assembly representing Nairobi. As an elected African and the secretary for African Elected Members (AEMO), he sought support for the independence movement from the international community. 


His political career later advanced to the continent, he attended the All-African People’s Conference in Ghana, in 1958, where he was elected as the conference chairperson. The conference was convened to discuss on the independence of all African states. It was hosted by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who also happened to be Mboya’s friend. Tom Mboya spoke frankly on African unity and the goal of a United States of Africa.


In 1959, Mboya made another great development, along with the USA’s African American Students Foundation, he organized for some Kenyans to study in American Universities under the Africa Airlift Program. Among the beneficiaries include Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Prof. Wangari Maathai, and Barack Obama Sr, the father of America’s 43rd president, Barack Obama. This year he also made friends and shared a podium with Martin Luther King Jr. and Bayard Rustin at a civil rights movement rally held in Washington DC.


Tom Mboya received at Atlanta Airport by a group led by Martin Luther King Jr., 1959.

Later on, in 1960, the Kennedy foundation chipped in allowing the Airlift program to support more students. Through Mboya’s partnership with J.F Kennedy, Airlift Africa was able to benefit other African countries' students.


Through Mboya’s long-term efforts in championing the release of political prisoners in Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta (who would be Kenya's first president) was released in 1961. The two together with Oginga Odinga joined to form the Kenya African National Union (KANU) party. As the secretary-general of the party, Mboya headed the delegation team to Lancaster House in London to negotiate for Kenya’s independence. He was also one of the master planners for the design of the Kenyan flag and the Nairobi City.


After independence in 1963, Mboya was elected as a Member of Parliament for Nairobi Central Constituency (currently Kamukunji constituency). He also doubled as the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. He later become Minister for Economic Planning and Development where he led in drafting of the ‘Sessional Paper 10’ on Harambee and Principles of African Socialism.


Tom Mboya’s death

On 5th July 1969, at age 39, Tom Mboya was assassinated on what is today Moi Avenue, Nairobi. He had stopped by a chemist after his tour to Addis Ababa. We know death as being cruel but it was crueller for a man who had achieved this great. His death was received with a sad state in the country, chaos erupted forcing the Kenyatta government to deploy several police officers to calm the situation.


In one of his memorial services, his daughter Dr. Susan Mboya stated that the family lost their loved one but the country had lost an outstanding leader. It has also been said that Kenya would have been a greater country with more years of his leadership. Tom Mboya was very likely to succeed Jomo Kenyatta as the next president of Kenya.


Tom Mboya's statue erected in Nairobi.

We can summarize the story of Tom Mboya as him being one of the greatest human beings that the creator gifted Kenya. His intelligence, visionary ideas, and oratory skills are what made him a great man internationally. He achieved more for his age.


May he continue to Rest In Peace!

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