THE ROLE OF TOM MBOYA IN THE LADOUR MOVEMENT IN KENYA

Tom Mboya played a critical part within the labor development in Kenya amid the mid-20th century.
Here are 15 key focuses around his commitments and impact in this field:

Establishing Figure: Tom Mboya was one of the establishing figures of the labor development in
Kenya. Mboya took advantage of the contacts he made with U S President: J.F Kennedy and the funds he
raised through the American Students Foundation in 1959 to organize students airlifts to the USA for
further studies. Through the scheme, over 2000 students were trained

Pioneer of Exchange Unions: He served as the pioneer of a few exchange unions in Kenya,
counting the East African Exchange Union Congress. In 1951, Mboya joined the Nairobi African Local
government Servants Association (NALGSA), of which he became Vice president in 1952. This was a Staff
Welfare association, but Mboya hoped to transform it into a Trade union.

Mobilizing Specialists: Mboya played a vital part in mobilizing laborers over Kenya, empowering
them to connect unions and take part in labor activism

Advocate for Workers' Rights: He was a staunch advocate for workers' rights, counting way
better compensation, working conditions, and benefits. Mboya championed the formation of the
Tanganyika Federation of Labour and the Uganda Trade Union. He attended seminars on the education of
workers in Switzerland, Brussels and London, during which he met Jawaharlal Nehru: the leader of the
Indian Trade Union congress, apart from acquiring ideas on organization of similar seminars. He
demanded the release of detained trade unionists and political leaders.

Labor Strikes: Mboya organized and bolstered labor strikes to press for made strides working
conditions and higher compensation. In 1953, Mboya became secretary General for the Kenya Local
Government Workers Union (KLGWU), which was an Umbrella organization of all local government
workers unions in Kenya. He used this position to argue for fair treatment of indigenous Africans and to
protest against mass arrests, detention and torture.

Transactions with Bosses: He locked in in transactions with bosses and the colonial government
on sake of laborers to secure superior labor understandings. On his return to Kenya from studies in
Britain, he participated in and won election to the legislative Council in 1957 as member for Nairobi East
constituency. He and seven other elected Africans formed the African Elected Members organization
(AEMO), which opposed the Lyttelton and Lennox Boyd constitutional reforms and of which he became
Secretary.

Solidarity in Labor Developments: Mboya worked to join together different labor unions and
labor activists in Kenya, making a more effective and bound together labor development. In 1952, Mboya
joined the Kenya African Union (KAU), of which he became Treasurer before it was banned by the
government and its leaders detained

Universal Solidarity: He moreover looked for worldwide bolster and solidarity for the Kenyan labor
development, producing associations with labor activists and organizations universally. In the very 1952,
the Kenya Federation of registered Trade unions was formed to coordinate Trade union activities. Mboya
became its Secretary General and managed to triple its membership by persuading staff associations to
register as trade unions. Mboya affiliated KFRTU to the International confederation of Free Trade Unions
(ICFTU) in the USA and the British Trade Union Congress (BTUC). Because of such links, the colonial
government in Kenya could not ban trade unions in the country.

Instruction and Preparing: Mboya emphasized the significance of teaching and preparing
specialists to gotten to be more mindful of their rights and to successfully take part within the labor
movement. As Minister for Labour in the coalition government of KANU and KADU in 1962, Mboya drew
the Labour Relations charter to regulate relations between employers and employees.

Political Impact: His work within the labor development was closely tied to his political desires, and
he utilized his impact to assist the political and financial rights of Kenyan specialists. In October 1955,
Mboya joined Ruskin College: Oxford, to study Economics, Political and Industrial Relations. During his
stay in Britain, he wrote an article titled: The Kenyan Question: An African Answer, which boosted
awareness of the Kenyan situation and the need for democracy. The article received overwhelming
international attention.

Specialist Representation: Mboya pushed for expanded specialist representation in decision-

making forms, both in labor unions and at the national level. In 1955, the Mombasa dock workers called
upon Mboya to mediate in their strike, which threatened to undermine activities at the dock. He won for
them a 33% pay-rise and improved working conditions.
Promotion for Social Welfare: He campaigned for the foundation of social welfare programs and
approaches to bolster laborers and their families. On completing his studies, Mboya was sponsored by
the American Committee on Africa to visit the USA, where he was received by unionists such as George
Meaney of the African Federation Of labour Congress And industrial Organization (AFLCIO). He gave
public lectures on African grievances in Kenya and secured scholarships for Africans from different
countries to study in U S universities.

Anti-discrimination Endeavors: Mboya too battled against separation within the work
environment, supporting for equal treatment and openings for all specialists. As Minister for Planning
and Economic development, Mboya drafted and published the Sessional paper nO.10 of 1965 on African
Socialism and its application to planning in Kenya. He also produced the 1966 and 1970 development
plan for Kenya

Part in Freedom Development: His inclusion within the labor development was interlaced with
the broader battle for Kenyan freedom, as labor rights were seen as a portion of the battle against
colonial run the show. In 1963, Mboya published an autobiography titled Freedom and after, in which he
expressed great optimism for the future of Kenya

Bequest: Tom Mboya's bequest within the Kenyan labor development perseveres, as his endeavors
cleared the way for moved forward labor conditions, workers' rights, and the possible accomplishment
of Kenyan autonomy . As Secretary General for KANU, Mboya organized the 1966 Limuru conference,
which organized fresh KANU elections and resolved the conflict between radicals and moderates in
KANU. It replaced the position of Vice President with seven Vice Presidents: one from each of the six
regions and one from Nairobi. It was purposed to remove Oginga Odinga from the post of Party Vice
president. And develop labor to the kenya citizen.
References:

1. Ogot, B. A. (1995). Tom Mboya: The Man Kenya Wanted to Forget. East African Educational Publishers.

2. Kanogo, T. (1987). Squatters and the Roots of Mau Mau, 1905-1963. James Currey Publishers.

3. Ochieng', W. R., & Maxon, R. M. (1999). Historical Dictionary of Kenya. Scarecrow Press.

4. Kanyinga, K., & Okello, D. O. (2006). Ethnicity, Democracy and Citizenship in Africa: Political
Marginalisation of Kenya's Nubians. African Books Collective Ltd.

5. Branch, D., & Cheeseman, N. (2018). Our Turn to Eat: Politics in Kenya Since 1950s to Date. Oxford
University Press.