Wed, 6 Feb 2008 02:03:36


Realising the need for unity, Mr Ronald Ngala announced the voluntary dissolution of his party, the Kenya African Democratic Union on 10th November, 1964. Announcing the dissolution of KADU, Mr Ngala made the following statement in parliament:

‘Mr. Speaker, sir, on behalf of the official opposition in the National Assembly and all of its members and supporters throughout Kenya today, I would like to make the following brief statement; that in the interests of Kenya, I have the fill mandate to declare today that the official Opposition is dissolved, KADU joins the government under the leadership of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.The opposition today will vote with the government for the new constitution in the senate and we hope that the regional powers that have been whittled away will be delegated to the regions. I have taken KADU into the government fully aware of the challenges that are facing us in Kenya and East Africa today and in the future, but we intend to face the national issues with one voice and one purpose. This must include strong resistance to Neo-colonialism in any form and strong adherence to the policy of non-alignment as already stated at Organization of African Unity conference in Addis Ababa. I would like to urge members of the National Assembly to forget the past hostility between KADU and KANU members in the true spirit of building the nation ,and whatever differences there exist among ourselves and in the matter of social and economic developments, defence or foreign policy, are discussed and settled among ourselves to project the African personality and the African personality and unity of Kenya today, and outside the boarders of our country.

For the members and the supporters of KADU and KANU in the country, I would urge them to regard themselves as one brothers and sisters, and citizens of Kenya who must work now together to build our country in its social and economic programmes. Our efforts will also be worth achieving freedom of expression and true African Socialism and democracy for our people.

As I take KADU into government, we have no grudge against Mzee Kenyatta or any of the KANU leaders; in fact, the reunion of old 1952 and 1957 members, is a great joy to us. This is a historic moment when we have to overlook our personal political dignity, gains or losses in favour of the Kenya cause, and in the representation of a united front to the world. Tribal and racial conflicts must cease and should have no meaning to us in order to build a united nation.

Finally sir, I would like to wish every luck and success to my friend the president –designate Rt. Hon Mr .Kenyatta.”

Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, then prime minister, stated the following in answer to Ngala’s speech;

‘Mr Speaker sir, I wish to make only a few remarks to welcome our brother wholeheartedly for realizing that Kenya needs greater unity than we have had until now. I regard this day as a great day, not for the Kenya African National Union, but for Kenya as a whole.

When we came from the first Lancaster house conference, I said that victory was not victory for KANU but for Kenya. Today I wish to reaffirm that statement and to say that this day I think we have broken the last chain of colonialism and imperialism. It was through a device of this imperialist that we, as Africans had to be apart, it was something that was engineered by some of these ingenious imperialist to divide us and continue to rule us. It is for this reason say that today is a great day and I hope that from now on we will work as a team; we will work under the spirit of Harambee to build a new nation.

As we said, the wrangling, the opposing for opposition's sake, have died for ever and ever, Amen. We shall be able to go ahead planning for the future of our country. We shall go ahead, finding what is good for Kenya, but not what is good for individuals. We shall work as one team, working for the sake of Kenya alone, and I think that now with one party leading the country the fruit of our victory will be very soon.

With this few remarks, Mr.Speaker, I wish to welcome Kabweri and his colleagues and ask him that the Kibuyu which he used to carry all the Kabweri with him should now belong to the nation and not to the coast alone. So Mr.Speaker, thank you very much.”

        - Sent by Richard