# Booker Omole

Booker Ngesa Omole is a Kenyan political activist serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party Marxist – Kenya (CPMK), a position he assumed following the transition of the Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) into the CPMK. Prior to this role, Omole held the position of National Vice Chairperson of CPK, where he played a significant part in the party's evolution and ideological direction.

## Early life and education

Booker Omole was born in Gem, Siaya County, a region known for its political activism. He attended the University of Nairobi, where he studied engineering. His involvement in student politics laid the foundation for his future in Kenya's socialist movements. He became an early member of the Young Socialist League, actively participating in grassroots mobilisation efforts, which later fed into his role in the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) before its transformation into a communist organisation.

## Political career
### Communist Party of Kenya

Omole played a pivotal role in the reorganisation of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) into the Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) in 2019. This transformation marked a significant shift in the party's focus toward Marxist–Leninist ideology, aiming to address widespread social inequalities in Kenya and focusing on the struggles of the working class and peasants. As a key leader, Omole advocated for revolutionary tactics and systemic change, calling for a socialist state rooted in Marxism–Leninism.
He served as the National Vice Chairperson of CPK and was actively involved in various protests against economic policies perceived as detrimental to the working class, including the June 2024 Gen Z uprisings protesting the IMF-Finance bill. Omole's leadership extended into electoral politics; he ran for political office in the 2012 and 2017 elections but was unsuccessful. He was expected to contest in 2022 but faced setbacks, notably his nomination papers being absent from the IEBC nominee list despite active campaigning efforts.

### Communist Party Marxist – Kenya

Following the reconstitution of CPK into CPMK, Omole became its general secretary, guiding the party through significant ideological and organizational changes. Under his leadership, CPMK formulated key documents such as the People's Program for National Democratic Revolution, detailing strategies for transforming Kenya into a socialist state. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping CPMK's policies and strategies, where, during the Second National Congress of CPMK, key documents, including the party's constitution and policies on mass mobilisation, were revised. He also spearheaded restructuring efforts within party organs like the Revolutionary Youth League and Women's League, emphasising scientific leadership and evaluating party cadres based on their ideological contributions.

## Ideological contributions

Booker Omole is recognized for his extensive political activism and his unwavering dedication to representing the interests of Kenya's working class and peasantry. He advocates for dismantling capitalist structures to establish a socialist state in Kenya, emphasising the need for revolutionary change to address social inequalities and empower the working class, whom he views as the true producers of the country's wealth.
As one of Kenya's leading Marxist–Leninist theorists, Omole has made significant contributions to the ideological development of the Communist Party Marxist – Kenya (CPMK). His writings provide a critical analysis of bourgeois politics and underscore socialism's essential role in addressing economic inequalities in Kenya. Through his theoretical contributions and active engagement in political discourse, Omole continues to shape the leftist narrative in the country.

## Legal issues

Booker Ngesa Omole has been involved in several high-profile legal cases and charges. These legal controversies have garnered significant attention, particularly due to Omole's public profile as a former student leader and political figure.

### 2014 felony, disturbances, unlawful weapons and violent robbery charges

On April 9, 2014, during the Student Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) elections, Booker Ngesa Omole and eleven other students were arrested after gunshots were reported on campus. The incident took place at the Lower Kabete campus of the University of Nairobi, amidst heightened tensions due to the fiercely contested student elections. Police investigations revealed a Glock pistol registered to Omole, as well as other weapons, including swords and pangas (known as machetes in English). The group was charged with multiple offenses under the Kenyan Penal Code, including:
* Preparing to commit a felony
* Creating disturbances
* Going armed in public without lawful occasion (a violation of Section 88 of the Penal Code)
Omole, a licensed firearm holder, faced specific charges for being armed in a manner that could incite terror and cause alarm among students and university staff. The charge sheet indicated that Omole and his co-accused had fired shots into the air and made threats, actions deemed likely to cause a breach of peace on campus.
The violence was believed to be linked to intense competition for leadership positions within SONU. Preliminary investigations suggested that Omole had been supporting a candidate running for the secretary-general position, providing vehicles and logistical support for the campaign.
All twelve defendants, including Omole, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared in court. In December 2015, the prosecutors added afresh charges of violent robbery to the initial charges for the twelve.

### 2021 defamation of Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo

Booker Ngesa Omole was sued for defamation in 2021 in the matter of In the matter of Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo v. Booker Ngesa Omole. The case was initiated by Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo, a Member of Parliament for Gem Constituency, who filed a suit on September 24, 2020, against Omole. The lawsuit sought to prevent Omole from further publishing defamatory statements and demanded damages for reputational harm.
Odhiambo accused Omole of circulating false and defamatory statements on social media regarding a development project at Masinde Primary School. Specifically, Omole had claimed that Odhiambo had misappropriated KES 1,000,000 that was allocated for the construction of an administration block at the school. The statements, according to Odhiambo, damaged his reputation and caused harm to his standing as a public servant.
On July 28, 2021, the High Court ruled in favor of Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo. The court found that Omole had indeed published defamatory content that harmed Odhiambo's reputation. In its ruling, the court stressed the constitutional importance of protecting individual dignity and reputation, as guaranteed under Kenyan law. The court ruled that Omole had defamed the Odhiambo with malice and ordered Omole to pay general damages of Kshs 5,000,000; aggravated damages of Kshs 1,000,000 in restitution for defamation. Omole was also ordered to pay for the costs of the suit and interest on the awarded amounts from the date of the judgement until full payment. Additionally, the court issued a permanent injunction barring Omole from making any further defamatory statements about Odhiambo and the NG-CDF at Masinde Primary School.

### 2024 detention and release

On September 7, 2024, Omole was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while traveling to Beijing. This detention was widely viewed as politically motivated due to his outspoken opposition to President William Ruto's government, which he has accused of authoritarianism and human rights violations.
The Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) denounced Omole's arrest as illegal and politically motivated, asserting that he was on an official assignment when detained. The party emphasised that Omole's activism and leadership represent a direct challenge to the ruling regime's authority, which they claim is characterised by fear and repression. In his autobiographical work, Communist Party of Kenya and Manifestations of Class Struggle in Kenya, Omole articulates the struggles faced by the Kenyan people under a regime dominated by a wealthy elite, stating: “Kenya is a dictatorship, with a few wealthy people dominating all spheres of life. Capital is the dominating factor; with money, everything is for sale! Even people!”
After being charged with incitement to violence, Omole was released, but the charges were seen as part of a broader government crackdown on leftist activists in Kenya. Following his release, police raided his home on September 11. This escalated concerns about state harassment against political activists amid ongoing repression of dissenting voices. His arrest garnered attention from international leftist groups and human rights organisations, which condemned the action as an attempt to suppress dissent. His case has drawn solidarity from various national and international organisations advocating for his freedom and the protection of political rights in Kenya. Omole's experiences reflect the broader context of political repression in Kenya, where leftist leaders face significant risks for their activism.

## Public speaking and advocacy

Omole is recognised for his eloquent public speaking on issues such as corruption, social justice, anti-imperialism, and international solidarity. His speeches often connect local struggles of poverty, exploitation, corruption, and police brutality with global movements advocating for revolutionary change, anti-imperialism, and solidarity among working-class movements. He frequently appears as a pundit on platforms like Citizen TV, KTN and K24, articulating the struggles faced by Kenya's working class.
He has also been an outspoken critic of Western imperialism, aligning himself with the Global South while expressing admiration for China's development model as an alternative path for African nations seeking to escape neo-colonial exploitation.