Matigari intervenes when he sees two boys fighting for a shoelace, which indicates how poor the population is when even a cheap item like a used shoelace is considered valuable enough to be struggling for. The women at the bar explain that they have to sell their bodies just to feed their families, and the workers at the factory barely earn enough to make their ends meet. Matigari discovers that poverty is an essential tool for the imperialists, capitalists and the government to control people: The fear of losing their jobs is the foundation of their exploitation. Moreover, if people are so poor that they are desperate, they are more likely to accept lower wages, which maximizes the capitalists' profits. Ngugi wa Thiong'o explicitly mentions a series of Western and Asian countries and companies, which serve as symbols of capitalism, indicating that the entire world is tolerating the suffering of the African people for their own gain. Throughout the novel, the government is presented as an abstract force that oppresses its own citizens, thus securing their exploitation. It is ironic that it names itself "government of the people," when in fact it does nothing to improve the lives of the people. It is striking that in the beginning, Matigari does not go to the police for help, as he does not trust them. His inkling is later confirmed by two policemen chasing and threatening a woman because she did not want to engage in sexual intercourse with one of the cops. Moreover, the radio program "The Voice of Truth" constantly announces new measures to keep the people in line. While in the beginning gatherings of five or more citizens are prohibited, the government later even declares that dreams are forbidden—which underlines the absurdity of the measures as well as the government's desperation when the leaders realize that the revolutionary movement gains momentum. Other elements of oppression such as sentences without a trial or public trials to scare off potential revolutionaries are still all too common in many countries around the world, thus justifying the author's claim that the story does not have a fixed time or setting. However, apart from the government, Western countries and their companies are also criticized as the driving force behind the government's oppression. Williams as the personification of imperialism donates money to the great leader, thus seeking to maintain the status quo; not only does he and therefore the imperialists tolerate the oppression of the people-he demands it to secure his profits that he makes by exploiting the people. As soon as Matigari learns that the freedom he fought for is still not obtained, he decides to stand up against the oppressors and start a revolution.