49 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
49 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
The **Kenyan General Strike of 1947** was a [general
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strike](List_of_General_Strikes "wikilink") in [Kenya](Kenya "wikilink")
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(mainly the city of Mombosa) in
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[1947](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_Eastern_Africa "wikilink").
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## Background
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Kenya, then a colony of the [British Empire](British_Empire "wikilink"),
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saw a massive underpaid lower class who were frustrated with a lack of
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change.
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## Events
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On the 7th of January, 3,000 workers met to organize a strike and on the
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13th of January 1947, 15,000 workers declared a general strike. 75% of
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people didn't show up to work in Mombosa, mainly government workers,
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railroad workers, hotel workers, domestic servants, 4,000 dockworkers
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(dockers), and many others. Taxi drivers went around the city spreading
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word of the strike and urging others to participate.
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The government immediately declared the strike illegal, citing the
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Defense Regulations, which made it necessary for the port at Mombasa to
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stay open, as it was the only major access site to Kenya Colony and
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[Uganda](Uganda "wikilink"), then known as the Uganda Protectorate.
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Government threats did not stop workers. Every day strikers met at a
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soccer field to organize. On the 14th of January, 10,000 workers showed
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up to the daily meeting, [which was run with no official leader, giving
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everyone an opportunity to speak.](Democratic_Assembly "wikilink") Soon
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the meetings resulted in the formation of the African Workers’ Union.
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The people appointed 12 executive committee members. The next day, the
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government arrested 421 strikers, in response, barbers shaved the heads
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of 12 strikebreakers into strange shapes before a large crowd. Despite
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threatening legal action against the strikers, the government soon
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backed down.
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## Results
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The strike ensured a wage increase of at least 20% for workers (some
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workers got an increase of 40%\!) and workers were given housing
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allowances, paid holidays and paid overtime. The African Workers' Union
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attempted to organise a second strike to win more demands, but failed as
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it lost enthusiasm.
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## References
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[Global Nonviolent Action
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Database](Global_Nonviolent_Action_Database "wikilink") - [15,000
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workers strike, win wage increases in Mombasa, Kenya Colony
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January 1947](https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/15000-workers-strike-win-wage-increases-mombasa-kenya-colony-january-1947) |