The Annual General Meeting of the Labour Trade Union of Kenya in Sept 1936 fixed Oct 1936 for implementation of the eight-hour day .. In December 1936, the Union gave notices to employers that all wages should be increased by 25% from April 1937. The strike began on 1 April, 1937. It was a complete strike. A strike-committee was formed, picketing was organised, a free kitchen was started .. the decision was popularised through handbills, meetings in residential areas, works-discussions and public announcements (preceded by ringing of a large bell), in the the main thoroughfares of Nairobi, and daily mass meetings. The campaign created a new spirit among workers. The employers were at last compelled to reach a settlement. They agreed to wage-increase of 15-22%, to an eight-hour day and reinstatement of all workers. The workers resumed work on 2 June, 1937. - Makhan Singh (1969) Thus ended the longest, and the most successful, strike in the history of Kenya. But the sacrifices, the actions and the reality of the strike for workers is not captured by history books. Nor are the organisation by the East African Trade Union Congress and the role of its leader, Makhan Singh, fully understood. In going on strike for sixty-two days, the workers showed their industrial and political power, unmatched to this day. Shiraz Durrani's A Struggle of Sixty-Two Days is a welcome addition to a growing backlist of drama texts that draw on the rich and often hidden history of East Africa. A Struggle of Sixty-Two-Days sets itself apart from the tradition of historical plays before it by eschewing the use of a singular heroic figure to centre the drama. Instead, the play deliberately delivers the texture of the lived realities, skills and experiences of the workers who made a success of the longest and most consequential strike in the country's history, but also acknowledges the collaboration and support they drew from the people against the backdrop of the imperialist, racist and colonial era The 1937 strike would not only deliver an eight-hour working day as a right, besides wage increases, but would also be the seeding for mobilising the people of Kenya to challenge injustice and launch the fight for freedom. It is a struggle that pits the might of imperialist capital against the survival instincts of the oppressed and their quest for justice. The scenery and dialogue transport the reader back to 1937, but its echoes still ring true in continuing present-day clashes between labour and exploitative capital. - Kwamchetsi Makokha
The Annual General Meeting of the Labour Trade Union of Kenya in Sept 1936 fixed Oct 1936 for implementation of the eight-hour day .. In December 1936, the Union gave notices to employers that all wages should be increased by 25% from April 1937. The strike began on 1 April, 1937. It was a complete strike. A strike-committee was formed, picketing was organised, a free kitchen was started .. the decision was popularised through handbills, meetings in residential areas, works-discussions and public announcements (preceded by ringing of a large bell), in the the main thoroughfares of Nairobi, and daily mass meetings. The campaign created a new spirit among workers. The employers were at last compelled to reach a settlement. They agreed to wage-increase of 15-22%, to an eight-hour day and reinstatement of all workers. The workers resumed work on 2 June, 1937. - Makhan Singh (1969) Thus ended the longest, and the most successful, strike in the history of Kenya. But the sacrifices, the actions and the reality of the strike for workers is not captured by history books. Nor are the organisation by the East African Trade Union Congress and the role of its leader, Makhan Singh, fully understood. In going on strike for sixty-two days, the workers showed their industrial and political power, unmatched to this day. Shiraz Durrani's A Struggle of Sixty-Two Days is a welcome addition to a growing backlist of drama texts that draw on the rich and often hidden history of East Africa. A Struggle of Sixty-Two-Days sets itself apart from the tradition of historical plays before it by eschewing the use of a singular heroic figure to centre the drama. Instead, the play deliberately delivers the texture of the lived realities, skills and experiences of the workers who made a success of the longest and most consequential strike in the country's history, but also acknowledges the collaboration and support they drew from the people against the backdrop of the imperialist, racist and colonial era The 1937 strike would not only deliver an eight-hour working day as a right, besides wage increases, but would also be the seeding for mobilising the people of Kenya to challenge injustice and launch the fight for freedom. It is a struggle that pits the might of imperialist capital against the survival instincts of the oppressed and their quest for justice. The scenery and dialogue transport the reader back to 1937, but its echoes still ring true in continuing present-day clashes between labour and exploitative capital. - Kwamchetsi Makokha
Early Life and Background Shiraz Durrani is a Kenyan-born librarian, author, academic, and socialist activist renowned for his contributions to the documentation of Kenya’s radical history, African liberation struggles, and the role of information and knowledge in social transformation. Born in Kenya during the colonial period, Durrani witnessed first-hand the injustices and inequalities perpetuated by both colonial and post-colonial regimes, which significantly shaped his intellectual and political trajectory. Education and Career in Librarianship Durrani trained as a librarian in the United Kingdom, where he also became politically active. He earned his degrees in library science and went on to work in various public and academic libraries in the UK, especially in London. His career in librarianship has been guided by a deep belief in the power of information as a tool for liberation, education, and the empowerment of marginalized communities. He served as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Information Science at the University of London and later at Middlesex University. His approach to librarianship emphasized community engagement, political consciousness, and the development of libraries as centers of resistance against oppression. Return to Kenya and Political Engagement Durrani returned to Kenya in the 1980s and was actively involved in progressive and underground socialist movements opposing the dictatorship of President Daniel arap Moi. His critical writings, activism, and involvement in popular education drew the ire of the regime, leading to political harassment and eventual exile. His political philosophy was influenced by Marxism, Pan-Africanism, and the liberation movements across Africa and the Global South. He worked to build connections between intellectuals and working-class communities and was committed to developing a people-centered history that recognized the struggles of workers, peasants, and the urban poor. Writings and Intellectual Contributions Shiraz Durrani has authored and edited several influential works that challenge dominant narratives of Kenya’s history and advocate for a radical reinterpretation of African liberation. His writings often highlight the role of libraries, information, and cultural resistance in struggles for social justice. Key publications include: Never Be Silent: Publishing and Imperialism in Kenya, 1884–1963 Information and Liberation: Writings on the Politics of Information and Librarianship Mau Mau and Kenya: An Analysis of a Peasant Revolt (Editor) Pio Gama Pinto: Kenya’s Unsung Martyr, 1927–1965 Liberation! Histories and Lessons from the Struggle for Liberation in Kenya, 1945–2005 Durrani's scholarship is deeply rooted in the tradition of activist research and popular history. He has consistently sought to amplify the voices of those excluded from official histories—particularly trade unionists, youth movements, women, and grassroots organizers. Philosophy and Legacy Shiraz Durrani’s work sits at the intersection of information science, history, and revolutionary activism. He views the control of knowledge as central to systems of power and domination, and he advocates for the democratization of information as a means of achieving genuine liberation. Through his teaching, writing, and activism, Durrani has inspired generations of librarians, historians, and activists in Kenya, the UK, and beyond. His commitment to “history from below” and his role in recovering Kenya’s radical heritage have made him a vital figure in the struggle against historical erasure and neo-colonial narratives. Ongoing Influence Now based in the UK, Durrani continues to write, mentor, and contribute to movements for justice and liberation. He remains involved in the Revolutionary Socialist League and other progressive networks working to transform society through collective action, education, and resistance to capitalism, imperialism, and authoritarianism.
