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OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE IN BETRAYAL IN THE CITY

 Runaway oppression and many other injustices are the order of the day in Kafira. Discuss this statement using illustrations from Francis Imbuga’s ‘Betrayal in the City’
Dictatorial governments tend to use force and intimidation to suppress resistance. Most often the force used tends to disregard the fundamental rights of the individual. More so, the oppressed do not get the required justice for courts become custodians of those in Power. In Betrayal in the city, Boss’ regime adopts a rather draconian approach in addressing resistance.
 The University strike is an indicator of how oppression is used to suppress resistance. The leader of the strike ends up dead, with four bullets wounds in his chest. The violence meted on the striking students is meant to contain them; however, this usually works against the oppressor. Instead of the killings curtailing society, it strengthens the revolution and changes the tactics. Jusper, strengthened decides to uses his play as Trojan horse to power.
During the burial of Adika, according to Mosese, everyone was to conduct themselves calmly and not raise issues surrounding the death. When Mosese, condemned the killings and ‘wept in public.’ In order to cut such resistance from the public, Mosese is allegedly arrested as being a drug smuggler.
In what is viewed as grossly unreasonable act of oppression, Jere and Mulili are sent to stop the hair shaving ceremony. When Jere learns of the facts of the case, he becomes sympathetic of Nina and Doga- the parents of Adika, and lets them continue with the ceremony. Since his instruction is to stop the hair shaving ceremony, Jere is thrown into the dungeons.
Though oppression and injustice are meant to deter people from questioning the government, what it breeds instead is resistance by those intimidated. Nina and Doga go ahead with their ceremony and are killed in the process. Jusper, on the other hand, becomes insane and insensitive to the pain around him.
He becomes murderous hence killing Chagaga. Even though the evidence is there, and Jusper openly confesses to this crime, nobody charges him for murder or any crime. He is let go which leads him to make another kill. Chagaga too, after killing Adika (allegedly) was suspended from the police force without being brought to justice.
Although Boss uses his influence and above law status to instill fear in his subjects, it is the same fear that he dishes that come to bring him down. When Jere, Jusper, and Mosese grow a thick skin, they use the only available chance to bring the most powerful man in Kafira down.    

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