Salim Ahmed Bamahriz: A fearless, uncelebrated Kenyan shujaa giant

As the nation honours its heroes during the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, the main focus has been on the departed Kenya’s political icon, Raila Odinga, who passed away last week while undergoing treatment in India.

The former Prime Minister was buried yesterday at his Bondo farm in Siaya County in a ceremony where he was accorded a full state burial.

During the Mashujaa Day celebrations held at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, President William Ruto posthumously conferred upon Raila Odinga the highest honour of the republic, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (First Class).

President Ruto observed that this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations honours the extraordinary legacy of the late Raila Odinga who valiantly stood for justice and freedom in this country.

But as the country honours Raila and other heroes of nation, the name of one of the champions of the struggle for multi-party democracy, Salim Ahmed Bamahriz is rarely mentioned despite his relentless efforts to fight for liberation and freedom in the country.

He was known as a fearless voice against the marginalization particularly at the Coast and dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom, equality, justice and human rights.

Born in 1942, Bamahriz is remembered for being one of the ardent champions of Kenya's second liberation and a strong agitator for the rights of coastal residents. He was one of the veterans of the struggle for the second liberation and teamed with other opposition figures to push for the removal of the provisions of the constitution that made Kenya a single-party state.

The political icon, who hailed from Mombasa, died after a long illness in October 2016 at the age of 74. He breathed his last in the United Arab Emirates where he had settled with his family.

In his message of condolence, the then President, Uhuru Kenyatta described him as a courageous, fearless, selfless and dedicated man who devoted the prime of his life to the service of the nation. “His unwavering loyalty and service is exemplary. His devotion to our national cause and values will forever remain etched in our minds,” the President said.

In his eulogy, Raila Odinga, then a presidential candidate for the CORD coalition, said Bamahriz dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom, equality, justice, human rights and democracy “His passing marks the departure of another of those brave, committed individuals who lit a candle during the darkness of ruthless dictatorship and who contributed to the restoration of democracy largely through people’s power. Kenya, and the Coast in particular, has lost a compassionate and conscientious leader who was also fearless and unrelenting in his convictions,” he said.

“He suffered for these convictions, being detained alongside fellow fighters in the struggle for the opening up of the political space," the former premier added.

Bamahriz’s first stint into politics was in 1969, where he vied for the Changamwe parliamentary seat but lost to David Kioko. In 1979, he was elected Miritini Councillor where he served until 1990.

When the quest for pluralism gained momentum in the early 1990s, Bamahriz joined forces with opposition luminaries Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Martin Shikuku, Masinde Muliro, Philip Gachoka, and George Nthenge and founded the original Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) to push for the repeal of Section 2A of the Constitution that made Kenya a single-party state. The party later split into Ford Kenya and Ford Asili in 1992. Bamahriz joined the Ford Kenya faction, which was led by Jaromogi Odinga.

At a time when criticism of the then-president Daniel Arap Moi evoked fear and could lead to harassment and detention, Bamahriz was one of the first politicians who boldly started criticizing the former president. “For those who may have forgotten, this is the man who stood with courage. That is what opened Kenyans’ eyes to see that one could actually criticize President Moi,” said Moses Wetangula, then Senate Minority Leader, during a session in the Senate to honour the departed hero.

The then Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong’o said Bamahriz deserved to be honoured as among the country’s heroes who made a positive difference to the lives of Kenyans. “This nation should have a tradition of celebrating men and women who have made a difference to the life of this nation. As I eulogise the late Bahmariz, I want him to enter into the annals of history as one who fought bravely as a good leader and who made a positive difference to the lives of Kenyans in the fight for the second liberation and democratization in Kenya,” he said.

For his relentless struggle and criticism of the Moi administration, Bamahriz was detained several times by the government and even threatened with deportation to Yemen, which the former President claimed was his country of origin. “Huyu Mwarabu ana lugha mbaya sana ya kusumbua watu. Ikiwezekana, anaweza kurudi kwao Yemen.” (This Arab has a very bad language that bothers people. If possible, he can return to Yemen)

In reaction, Bamahriz retorted; “Iwapo kweli mababu zangu wana asilia ya Yemen, basi tuandamane na Rais Moi kwenye ndege ile ile mtakayonisafirisha, ili Moi ashukishwe kwanza kwao nchini Sudan (If it is indeed true that my roots are in Yemen, then put me on the same flight back home with President Moi so we drop him home first in Sudan).

Those who knew him described him as a pragmatic, humorous and humble person and a courageous Kenyan who struggled to ensure that Kenyans enjoyed the ideals of human rights and social justice.

"He was among Kenya’s heroic sons who were at the forefront in the struggle for human rights and freedom in the country. He deserves to be recognized for his sacrifices to the people of Kenya and remembered as a role model and mentor to many political leaders in the entire country," said Abdulrahman Wandati, an official of the Muslim Consultative Council (MCC).