Inspiring lessons from China as Kenya faces moment of rebirth

Every epoch, family, community, civilisation, nation, and generation witnesses the birth of a man or woman imbued with divine wisdom and mission, or even near-mythical magnetism, to shoulder a revolutionary idea and reshape and reset a people or society's destiny.

Roman emperor and stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, who reigned from 161AD to 180 AD, said thus of such people: "Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."

Those called to this noble and divinely ordained duty must harken to the call through commitment, sacrifice, boldness, and big-heartedness.

In the last century, one such man was Chairman Mao Zedong. From an early age, he was not only aware that his destiny was tied to those of his people but responded to their pitiful existence steeped in crushing poverty, ignorance, disease, and hunger and sought to change it radically.

He was an indefatigable revolutionary figure who inspired the rebirth of a new China.

In June – precisely June 15, 2024 – I was among five editors and members of the Kenya Editors Guild who had the privilege of visiting and paying homage to the illustrious son of Shaoshan village in Hunan Province. Here, he is immortalised in a life-size statue at Mao Zedong Square, where millions of Chinese and tourists stream to pay homage and connect with his infectious patriotic spirit that hangs over the hallowed grounds of the Memorial Hall with his works and exploits and the residence where he spent his early childhood.

I was overwhelmed to be “in the presence of” the man I had read so much about in my high school history classes on ancient China, even if it was just in statue form. Visiting his birthplace was a cathartic moment as I immersed myself in Chairman Mao's philosophy and revolutionary ideas, which had transformed the People's Republic of China into a significant global player. 

It was a strange coincidence that the Gen Z revolution happened during my first visit to the land of the enigmatic father of new China, which is bustling with home-grown prosperity.

Chairman Mao, a son of peasants, was an avowed anti-imperialist who intensely pursued the ideals of Chinese nationalism with unmatched zeal. He created a society in which everything has a Chinese genesis, identity, and contextual outcome, not just for a few elite and privileged citizens, but under a communist socio-economic and political philosophy that carries all and leaves no one behind. His philosophy is anchored in the dynamic but diverse culture of all the 1.4 billion Chinese.

This contrasts with post-colonial Kenya, which is just 10 years younger than modern China. In terms of socio-economic development, the two friendly states are poles apart! While Kenya suffers from the curse and brutality of what Australian historian and scholar Patrick Wolfe calls the construct and mentality of settler colonial mentality that thrives on elimination, domination, and suppression of the colonised, Chairman Mao led his compatriots to uproot such evil from their society.

The Youthquake sparked by Gen Z with cries for revolution framed as #RejectFinanceBill2024 is an attempt by a generation to take its turn at shaking the foundations of the settler mentality that created structures to subjugate forever and exploit the colonised. At independence, they physically stepped back but never left! 

Their superstructures — Upper class comprising politicians, pseudo-politicians, captains of industry and manufacturing, the clergy, and others; the middle class, a pretentious and ambitious lot aspiring to be upper class; and natives who are unthinking tools of production programmed to serve the interests of the Black Settlers — are allies of the White Settlers both locally and internationally.

In stepping forward to birth a new society based on values of proper governance, equity, and equality where every citizen has a chance to exist, Gen Z is trying to walk in the footprints of Chairman Mao's triad principles — nationalism, Indigenous democracy (not the copycatted and prescribed template from soulless and dehumanising models), and the livelihood of the people (or welfare).

Unlike his time, the seismic events of the past few weeks, the 2010 Constitution defines ways to resolve our contradictions, challenges, and injustices through conversations and dialogue. 

We missed our "Chairman Mao" figure and moment 60 years ago, but it is never too late, albeit differently! My prayer is that mutants of the extractive and exploitative old order will not hijack it.