Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo

**Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo**, wey people too dey call am **George Philip Ochola** (1930–1990), na Kenyan trade unionist plus Member of Parliament for Ndhiwa, South Nyanza, Kenya. He play role for de fight for Kenya ein independence wey he benefit too from de Mboya-Kennedy airlifts.

## Early life den education
George Philip Ochola (wey later dey known as Ochola Ogaye Mak’Anyengo) na person wey dem born insyd 1930 for South Nyanza, Kenya Colony. Ein poppie, Yohana Anyengo, na Licensed Minister for di Seventh-day Adventist Church - Ranen Field, den ein mommie be Rael Ogondi. Ochola complete ein primary school for Kamagambo Mission School den ein high school for Kisii Secondary School. E start ein career as teacher before e move go work as freight dispatcher for East African Railway and Harbour Administration, but e lef dat job sake of say dem dey pay am small—just 330 shillings every month. After dat, e go work as pump service plus retail clerk for Kenya Shell Oil Company Ltd. Then for 1954, dem select am make e join management trainee course for Kenya Shell Oil Company Ltd insyd Nairobi.

Ochola be one of di people wey benefit from di Mboya-Kennedy Airlifts. Dis program na idea wey Tom Mboya plus William X. Scheinman bring come, to help solve di heavy wahala wey dey face Kenya for education. At dat time, Kenya dey fight for independence from Britain, but dem no get enough educated Africans to fit take leadership roles. Di colonial government sef fear say if too many Africans get education, dem go start dey demand say make dem run dia own affairs. De airlift program help hundreds of Kenyans den oda East Africans get scholarship go study for United States of America. Dis movement get support from John F. Kennedy, di African American Students Foundation (AASF), den big African American figures like Harry Belafonte, Jackie Robinson, Sidney Poitier den Martin Luther King Jr. At dat time, Ochola be Secretary General for di new Petroleum and Oil Workers Union, so e need to dey negotiate labour contracts plus big international oil companies. Dis work hard for am because e no get much experience or higher education. Tom Mboya advise am make e apply for di airlift program. Just like most people wey apply, Ochola apply to plenty colleges before University of Chicago finally accept am. Before e fly go America, e attend African Labour College for Kampala for preparatory course. Di American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) support am, and e earn Diploma for Industrial Labour Relations from University of Chicago. While e dey study, di local branch of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union help am get part-time job for Corn Products Refining Company for Summit, Illinois, so e fit take care of ein upkeep.

## Politics den Trade Unionism

### Independence struggle den civil rights activities
As George Philip Ochola dey work for Kenya Shell Company Limited, e begin involve einsef for di struggle wey dey go on for Kenya ein independence. E join di Nairobi People’s Convention Party (NPCP), wey Tom Mboya dey lead. At dat time, de Mau Mau rebellion don already collapse, and di colonial government no dey allow make Africans dey do political activity freely. Di NPCP come become di only African nationalist party wey dey legal and dey organised well-well for Kenya. Jomo Kenyatta don dey prison, dem accuse am say na him lead di Mau Mau movement. Na dis party, NPCP, come start to dey shout say make dem release Kenyatta, follow di example wey Oginga Odinga set. But de colonial government no gree. Dem dey disturb party members steady, and for March 1959, dem arrest many of dem for di biggest round-up since di Mau Mau emergency. Di same emergency laws wey dem use suppress Mau Mau, na dem dem use try crush di NPCP too. Na here George Philip Ochola come rise take strong leadership position. As dem arrest many top members, na him step up take charge. Di work wey e do help di party grow more, both for size and for popularity, even under serious oppression.

Insyd University of Chicago, George Philip Ochola, wey people don dey call Ochola Mak’Anyengo by den, become student leader for di All Africa Student Association. Dis period na di same time wey civil rights movement dey hot for United States of America, plus anti-colonial struggle wey dey go on across Africa. Mak’Anyengo write one article wey e title *"Why Mau Mau"* for one publication wey dem dey call *Liberation*, wey dey talk about African anti-colonial struggles. Di article defend di Mau Mau movement and explain di real reasons behind di uprising, especially as dem relate to oppression under colonial rule. After dem assassinate Patrice Lumumba — di first democratically elected leader of di Democratic Republic of di Congo — for early 1961, Mak’Anyengo lead peaceful protest for Michigan Avenue for March of dat year. But as dem dey protest, counter protesters come show up against dem. Still, Mak’Anyengo ein role for dis protest show how e dey committed to African liberation and solidarity with other global Black movements.

President John F. Kennedy started the Peace Corps in February 1961 with the official aim of encouraging mutual understanding between Americans and other nations and states. Foreign students in the Chicago area had divergent opinions regarding the intentions and usefulness of the program. Ochola Mak'Anyengo was quoted in an article published in the *Chicago Tribune* saying "It is pointless to extend the arm of friendship to my country when a group of United States citizens, descendants of Africans, have no friendship here. Your best peace corps to African nations would be to improve the racial situation in America."

Insyd September 1964, one delegation from Organisation of African Unity land for Washington to try meet President Johnson so dem go fi talk about de American military support wey dem dey give Moise Tshombe, wey be de Premier for Congo. Ochola talk for press insyd say if President Johnson no meet di delegation, then massive workers demonstration go happen against di American embassy plus Americans wey dey Kenya. According to wetin de press talk, he talk say: "Time dey now wey Africans for resist di foolish idea wey Americans get say Africans be inferior people wey no fit judge for demselves wetin good or bad for dem. De sons plus daughters of Africans for rise resist American Imperialism plus colonialism by all means."

### Trade Unionism den Politics
Before he travel go Chicago, Ochola Mak’Anyengo elect make he head di Petroleum and Oil Workers Union shortly after he finish di management trainee course plus Kenya Shell Company Limited. After he get ein Diploma from University of Chicago, he come back Kenya den take up plenti trade union positions. Dis ones include di Office of Secretary-General for Kenya African Workers Union, di Office of Vice-President for Africa Chapter of di International Federation of Petroleum Workers, di Office of Secretary-General for Railways and Harbours Union, den di Office of Assistant Secretary-General for All Africa Trade Union Federation.

Mak’Anyengo too get appointment go Ministry of Labour Advisory Board for March 1963. As member for dis advisory board, he join hand inside how dem build di National Social Security Fund. Dis government agency wey dem task am to manage retirement funds for workers start for 1965 through one act of parliament.

Mak’Anyengo be one of di founding members for Kenya People's Union (K.P.U.), wey be one left-leaning opposition party wey Jaramogi Oginga Odinga dey lead. Dis one happen during di Cold War time, wey Kenya turn stage for proxy ideological fight between di western and eastern blocs. Even though Kenya be member for di non-aligned movement, Cold War ideological divisions mix enter demma local politics. Oginga Odinga, Bildad Kaggia, Pio Gama Pinto, Achieng Oneko, Dennis Akumu plus Ochola Mak’Anyengo be some of di people wey raise voice about corruption for government top and how western influence dey grow inside di country. Dem promise say dem go follow policies wey go benefit all Kenyans, but people criticize dem say dem ideas be too radical.

### Pio Gama Pinto Assassination
Pio Gama Pinto was a Kenyan of Goan descent. He was a freedom fighter who was detained during the colonial period. He was also Jaramogi Odinga’s chief tactician and link to the eastern bloc. He was assassinated on 25 February 1965 in what is recognised as Kenya’s first political assassination. The report of the truth, justice and reconciliation commission (2013) concluded that the Kenyatta government was responsible for numerous gross violations of human rights including the political assassination of Pio Gama Pinto. Ochola Mak'Anyengo was briefly arrested following accusations that he had hired men to frighten Pinto ostensibly because Pinto was his trade-union rival. One of these men ended up assassinating Pinto. These charges were dropped when one of the accused assassins denied having met Mak'Anyengo.

### Detention without trial
Insyd August 1966, Ochola Mak'Anyengo get arrest together plus oda leaders for K.P.U., den dem detain dem without trial for plenti years. Dem people wey dem arrest include Oluande Koduol, wey be private secretary to Oginga Odinga, plus Peter Ooko, wey be general secretary for East African Common Services Civil Servants Union. Mak'Anyengo dey prison till July 1968. After dem release am, dem re-elect am unanimously through popular vote make he continue to lead di Petroleum and Oil Workers Union.

Then for 25 October 1969, one major incident happen for Kisumu town, wey be di capital for Nyanza Province. President Jomo Kenyatta come dey inaugurate di New Nyanza Provincial Hospital. Tom Mboya, wey be one popular leader for inside di Luo community, dem assassinate am on 5 July 1969, and because of dat, political tension high. During di inauguration, demonstration break out wey lead to di death of at least 11 civilians for police ein hand, according to official report. But other estimates talk say di death toll reach around 100 men, women plus children, some of dem dem shoot even 50 km (31 mi) away from where di demonstration dey happen. Dis incident dey known as di Kisumu massacre. After dis, dem ban di Kenya People's Union (K.P.U.). Several party members, including Mak'Anyengo, dem arrest dem on 27 October 1969. Dis be ein second detention without trial.

Amnesty International run one campaign – postcards for prisoners – to make people know say dem imprison Mak'Anyengo without trial. For June 1970, Mak'Anyengo announce say he go start hunger strike to protest ein imprisonment. For August 1970, some of di people wey dem detain, dem release dem, but Mak'Anyengo still remain for prison till March 1974. Even though di official allegation be say he act illegal against di government during di time dem arrest am, Mak'Anyengo never face any formal charge or trial for any wrongdoing. Dem no ever bring any evidence to support why dem imprison am.

### Return to Trade Unionism den Politics
After dem release am, he later go back to trade union work plus politics. For 1981, Mak’Anyengo win di position of secretary general for Railways and Harbours Union. Then for 1983, dem elect am as Member of Parliament for Ndhiwa Constituency under K.A.N.U. (Kenya African National Union) party ticket. During dis period, he serve as Assistant Minister for Health, Assistant Minister for Culture and Social Services, plus Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs.

## Death
Ochola Mak'Anyengo die insyd 1990 while insyd office following a short illness.

## Legacy
One eulogy wey dem deliver for start of parliamentary house meeting after ein death describe am as veteran trade unionist plus well-known freedom fighter wey get notable sense of humour plus debating skills. Dem talk say: "Ein contribution to national development, devotion to serve ein constituents, plus dedication to di ruling party Kanu all dey speak for demself."

## Publications

* Why Mau Mau by George Philip Ochola. Liberation. January 1960. Available from the University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign. Digitised 9 March 2011
* Union Problems in Developing Countries by Ochola Mak’Anyengo. IUD Digest. 1962 Available from the Wayne State University Library. 
* How Politics Affect the Role of the Trade Union Leaders in Developing Countries by Ochola Ogaye Mak'Anyengo, Vice-President International Federation of Petroleum Workers. Petro. International Federation of Petroleum Workers 1963. From Cornell University Digitised 11 July 2011

## References