The Communist Party of Kenya (CPK) and Kenya Cuba Friendship Society (KCFS) condemns in the strongest terms the ongoing attempts by US sponsored individuals who are attempting to stir discontent and destabilisation in Cuba, in a continuation of hostilities against the island nation since its proclamation of the socialist revolution in 1959.

It must be recalled that in his final days, the former US President Donald Trump introduced a raft of additional restrictions against Cuba as a continuation of the murderous Blockade on Cuba. This was done right in the middle of a global pandemic!

We must also recall that funding for anti-Cuba dissident groups in the US has been on the increase in the past three years.

We applaud the masses of Cuba for trusting in and building the Cuban revolution even in the face of the worst challenges that have been imposed on them by the US blockade. We also applaud the Cuban scientists, who even in the midst of the blockade, have managed to develop their own Covid-19 vaccines whose safety standards are higher than some of those that have been developed in the western countries. We also honour Cuba for the solidarity that it has shown and continues to express to Africa and developing and developed countries in these pandemic times, even as it works to overcome its own Covid-19 challenges at home.

Indeed, and as President Miguel Diaz-Canel has noted, Cuba, just like all countries of the world, has faced immense challenges arising out of the corona virus pandemic. This is exacerbated by the fact that Cuba’s socialist system has increased the life expectancy of its population to over 80 years - an aging population that is disproportionately targeted by the Virus.

It is however extremely unfortunate (though not unexpected) that the US has taken advantage of the challenges arising out of the blockade and the corona virus pandemic to stir destabilisation in Cuba. This has been made even more clear by the fact that the US President Joe Biden has expressed full support to those attempting to promote dissent in Cuba.

We in Kenya, CPK and KCFS condemn in the strongest terms the US destabilisation attempts on Cuba, we demand that the United States end its illegal economic, financial and commercial blockade on Cuba, and we stand in full solidarity with the leadership of Cuba, as led by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the Communist Party of Cuba and the revolutionary people of Cuba.

Viva the Cuban Socialist revolution!

Down with US imperialism Down!

Aluta continua! vitoria e certa!

Benedict Wachira,

Secretary General, Communist Party of Kenya (CPK)

12 July 2021