Return to Kenya

• In 1949 Pinto returned to Kenya and took up a job with the Magadi Soda Company before settling in Nairobi.
• By now, Kenya was in political ferment.

1947 – India won Independence and set the pace for decolonization.

Post-WWII African veterans who faced discrimination from their white counterparts then took up the anti-colonial struggle. The ‘Anake a Forty Group’ was formed.

1950 – At a joint meeting of the East African Trade Union Congress, the East African Indian National Congress and the Kenya African Union, Makhan Singh, General Secretary of the EATUC, demanded ‘UHURU SASA!’

The EATUC was banned and its leaders arrested and detained. There was seething anger across Kenya.

• Pinto quit his job and went into politics. He learned Kiswahili in order to communicate with the people.
• He offered his services as a journalist/editor to:

The Daily Chronicle – Haroon, Piyo Rattansi,

The Africa Samachaar – Fitz de Sousa, Appa Pant,

 The Colonial Times – GL Vidhyarthi,

The Tribune – DK Sharda, JM Nazareth,

The Uzwod (TORCH) – in Konkani to arouse feelings against Portuguese imperialism.

• He joined the Trade Union Movement with Kaggia, Akumu, Pranlal, JD Kali, Aggrey Minya, AS Rao, Fred Kubai and others.

The East African Indian National Congress/Kenya Indian Congress

• He met politicians and others regularly in the Kenya Study Group KASU to discuss the pressing problems of the day.
• He was a member of the Central Committee of the Mau Mau.

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga: ‘The Daily Chronicle was the first and only English language newspaper in Kenya to advocate a militant nationalist policy, and to issue a call for the total independence of the colony under majority African rule.’

J D Akumu: ‘Pio made many suggestions on ways and means of reorganizing   our unions thereby making them not only stronger but effective instruments for hastening political and economic independence.’

Emergency was declared on 20 October 1952 – The Kapenguria Six, (leading Kenyan nationalists Jomo Kenyatta, Bildad Kaggia, Kung’u Karumba, Fred Kubai, Paul Ngei, and Achieng’ Oneko) were detained.

In the legal defense of the freedom fighters Pinto worked with lawyers:

Fitz de Souza, JM Nazareth, EK Nowrojee, AR Kapila, Jaswant Singh, SM Akram, AH Malik, Arwind Jamidar, Chanan Singh and others.