A Letter from Koigi Wa Wamwere

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today we are alive because
Your efforts and those of others
Saved us from the gallows.

Today I am out of prison because
Your efforts and those of others
Won me bond pending appeal.

Today our reputations remain untarnished because
You and other had the courage to
Acknowledge our innocence and

Boldly call us prisoners of conscience.
If Charles Kuria and G.G. Ngengi
Will be out of prison on bond tomorrow
It will be because of your continued campaign for their release.

If our full liberty shall be finally be restored to us tomorrow
It will be because of your continued campaign
For our unconditional release.

In Kenya today, there are many prisoners of conscience and many actual and potential political prisoners. If these Kenyans will ever come to enjoy justice and freedom it will be because of your untiring support.

Yes, we know that we are innocent, but we are also criminalised and muzzled. But you have a voice that even stones will hear, and sometimes heed. Therefore for us to be declared not guilty, you must speak for us, and for us to be released from prison and chains, you must also speak for us.

Yes, we all look up to you to give the innocent a voice. Your letters brought us hope and strength in prison. Your appeals for our release are a gadfly that denies Moi peace and rest, a gadfly that has made our final liberty a real possibility. If Moi will finally let us go it will be because of his desire to shake off this gadfly that he cannot kill or frighten off.

Our people say, "a dog that sees the shore does not drown." If I reached the shore and did not drown in prison it is because you cheered and showed me the shore. Not only that, practically, you taught me that no man is an island. We are all part of the continent, and whenever or wherever the bell of man's inhumanity to man tolls, it tolls for me and for all of us. This has helped to make others who suffer and die a part of me and given me more humanity than I had before.

So how shall I now adequately say thank you to you? It is not possible. But I shall remain forever indebted to you, and the cause of fighting for a freer and better world for all.

Today AI is world dictators worst gadfly. That is good, but not enough. AI will become more effective if it becomes also world's worst gadfly of all Western governments that make themselves allies of African and world dictators. Accordingly, AI should inundate world dictatorships with appeals for democracy and respect for human rights. It should also inundate Western governments with appeals for sanctions against Moi's and world's other dictatorships.

Western governments are led by men and women who have consciences and are sensitive to public criticism. Dictators have no consciences one could appeal to, they have only stomachs that one could either feed or starve. When starved, dictators listen. When fed, they grow arrogant, making it possible for Western government to feed dictators. And starving dictators is the most effective way of talking to dictators, the most effective way of forcing dictators to respect human rights. Campaigning for human rights must therefore mean harassing dictators with appeals. And through even more appeals to Western leaders, making it impossible for Western governments to use their taxpayers money to feed and enrich dictators. After all ,as our people say, "There is no difference between a thief and the one who keeps watch for him."

I am out of prison, but still a prisoner who is only out on bond. Kuria and Ngengi are still in prison and sick. There are still political prisoners in our stinking jails, violations of human rights happen daily in Kenya. Freedom and justice continue to be distant dream for all Kenyans but few.

And so the struggle continues, and Kenyans continue to need your utmost support and solidarity. May you always succeed in yours efforts of making the world a better place for all. May our collective dream of a free and just world come true soon and hopefully in our lifetime.

Koigi wa Wamwere
Norway
7th January, 1997