KENYANS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE DURING QUDS DAY

Kenyans joined millions across the world on 28th March in commemorating International Quds Day, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian people, not just in solidarity but in shared struggle. International Quds Day is held on the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Based in the capital of Nairobi, the Kenya-Palestine Solidarity Movement (KPSM) invited the public to attend speeches and exhibits showing the history of the Zionist occupation of Palestine, as well as draw parallels between western imperialism in Africa and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian land.

Like many other African countries, Kenya has a history of fighting against colonialism. In the 1950s, the Kenya Land and Freedom Army also known as Mau Mau waged a war of resistance against the British colonial authorities. This anti-imperialist legacy is still embedded in ordinary citizens, even though the present government, led by president William Ruto, has issued statements in support of Israel.

Christian Zionism has a strong hold on many Africans. However, support for the Palestinian cause is gaining ground, as more and more Africans are rejecting the narrative peddled by the Global North - that Israel is the victim and Palestinians the aggressors. Israeli military onslaught in Gaza has k*lled over 186,000, according to a July 2024 Lancet (British medical journal) report.

In this report, Kenneth Kaigua shares with us this year’s commemorations, where voices rose not just in protest, but in anti-imperialist defiance.

Sources

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/5/what-is-al-quds-day. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2024/7/8/gaza-toll-could-exceed-186000-lancet-study-says

https://irfront.org/post/international-al-quds-day-the-last-friday-of-every-ramadan-14408

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/us-tells-kenya-to-support-israel-or-forget-free-trade-deal