Dennis Akumu

**Dennis Akumu** (1934-2016) na he be Kenyan politician, trade unionist den independence freedom fighter. Na he be de first secretary general of de Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).

## Early life
Na dem born **James Dennis **"JD"** Obong Akumu** (7 August 1934 – 15 August 2016) to Blasto Akumu den Patricia Abuya for Nyakach for de then Nyanza Province of Kenya. Na he be Kenyan trade unionist den politician who be de MP for Nyakach from 1969 to 1973, den from 1992 to 1997.

## Family den education
Akumu be one of Blasto ein seven kiddies. Ein younger sisto Asenath Bole Ogada be novelist den publisher who promote writing for Dholuo. James, wey dem fondly nickname **JD,** dem born for Central Nyanza den educate for de Onjiko Secondary School for Kisumu before attending Aggrey Memorial High School near Kampala, Uganda. Ein stay for Uganda dem cut short when he decide to return to Kenya to further ein education for de Kenya Medical Training College for Nairobi from 1952–1954, plus de intention of becoming medical doctor. However, due to ein calling to fight for Uhuru den secof de state of Emergency wey de Mau Mau Uprising occasion, ein education dem interrupt. Soon afterwards, he take up job as laboratory technician for East African Breweries. E be while working for de brewery say e become active for de labor den trade union movement.

## Trade unionist
Ein calling as organizer den champion for workers' rights dem hone when he join de **Distributive and Commercial Workers Union** den . Shortly afterwards, he become de union ein representative but due to ein astute organizing activities den rising popularity insyd de union, dem dismiss am plus ein superiors who feel threatened. Na he go on to work as de district organizer for staff of de Local Government Worker's Union for Nairobi.

Unhappy plus how workers for Kenya dem treat, he become active for de trade unions den eventually politics.

Akumu first meet Trade Unionist den popular politician, Tom Joseph Mboya for 1952 while both be participants for debate for de Mbagathi Postal Training Center. Mboya, who den work as Health Inspector for de Nairobi City Council get massive influence for Akumu ein career. Dema friendship grow over time den become stronger when Mboya later become de Secretary General of de Kenya Federation of Labor.

Akumu expand ein horizons den travel plus Mboya regionally for Africa but sanso to de US den Europe. For 1958 Tom Mboya send Akumu to Accra, Ghana to attend de preparatory committee meeting of de All African People's Conference wer na he meet President Kwame Nkrumah, man wey he greatly admire. Dat meeting solidify ein commitment to Pan Africanism. Through de APC Dennis Akumu link up to African leaders for de diaspora such as Philip Randolph, USA den Michael Manley of Jamaica den e hone ein bridge building/ Pan African skills. He become Director of de Africa's Workers Congress from 1964-1965.

As Secretary General of de Dockworkers Union, wey dem headquarter for Mombasa, he fight for den oversee de Africanization of de Port of Mombasa den de elevation of African workers to supervisory positions wey Europeans hold hereto for. Na he sanso negotiate better wages den terms of employment for all. He work tirelessly den leaving de Dockworkers Union be very difficult for am but dem call am to Nairobi to lead de Central Organization of Trade Unions.

For 1965, Dennis Akumu join de Central Organization of Trade Unions of Kenya as Deputy General Secretary. Akumu later become COTU (K) ein Secretary General from 1969 through 1975 den founding Secretary General of de Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU wey base for Accra, Ghana for 1973.

## Politics
For 1957, political alliance dem spawn when e support Tom Mboya ein successful political campaign. As result, dem form de **People's Convention Party of Kenya** for wich e be de first Organizing Secretary den later become de Secretary General. Ein charisma, oratory den organizing skills dem recognize by Mboya who be head of de Kenya Federation of Labor. For 1958, Mboya encourage Akumu to accept de position of de General Secretary of de Mombasa Dock Workers' Union, position wey e cherish den dem reward am for by being reelected four times to serve for ten years.

For 1960, Akumu win seat den serve as de first of de four Africans for de **Mombasa City Council** for two years. While attending de All African People's conference for Tunisia for 1960, due to de polarizing positions for Lancaster House constitutional conference dem airlift am from de Tunisia meeting to London to serve as de so called "backroom man" to help reach compromise for de type of constitution wey Kenya go adopt. Dem call am to share ein expertise, experience den make recommendations for 2001 for de Mombasa Workshop for session plus Lancaster House constitution Making veterans; for 2003 for de Plenary Proceedings, Presentation for Lancaster House wey dem hold for de Bomas of Kenya; den as Observer during de historic Constitution of Kenya Review Commission National Constitution conference for 2005.

Akumu dem first detain by de Kenyatta government for 1966 for almost year owing to ein involvement for politics. For 1990, dem detain am again, dis time by de Moi government for fortnight as result of ein passionate campaign den support for de return of multi-party democracy for Kenya under de Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD) banner.

For 1969, dem elect am Member of Parliament for Nyakach constituency under de one party system of de Kenya African National Union (KANU) den serve until 1973. Dem again elect am de Member of Parliament for de same constituency for 1992-1997 for FORD-Kenya ticket.

Dem honor am to represent de people of Nyakach for Parliament den as Member of Parliament, e work for den attain improvements for ein constituents as dem fondly remember am for improving roads, broadening access to piped water, ensuring better health services den
facilitating access to higher education through ein international networks to de United States, Europe, Asia den across Africa.

Akumu work tirelessly to unite Africans, narrow ideological differences, restore African workers' dignity den resist forces of exploitation for Africa ein independence. For de spirit of Pan-Africanism, e reach out to den build bridges for North America, Latin America den de Caribbeans. Among ein many other achievements be ein work for strengthening de anti-Apartheid movement den de fight for liberation for all Africans through de OAU den UN mechanisms. Akumu be instrumental for de reburial of President Kwame Nkrumah den de establishment of de WEB Dubois Center for Accra, Ghana.

## Death
Akumu be generally healthy most of ein life. Dem diagnose am plus kidney complications for 2006. E seek medical attention for different medical facilities but unfortunately, ein health deteriorate. After decade-long struggle plus kidney failure, e die for 18 August 2016 for de Aga Khan Hospital for Nairobi, age 82.

## References