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<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on July 7, 2025, 6:25 am</div><div id="pl-6815"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-6815-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-6815-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-6815-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) were eerily quiet on Monday morning as Kenya commemorated the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba Day, a historic milestone in the nation’s fight for multiparty democracy. The city, typically bustling with activity, was under a heavy police lockdown as authorities sealed off major roads leading to the CBD in anticipation of planned protests led by Generation Z activists and supported by civil society groups. The heightened security measures, which included barricades, roadblocks, and a significant presence of anti-riot police, disrupted public transport and sparked tension across the capital.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Saba Saba, meaning "seven seven" in Kiswahili, marks the pivotal protests of July 7, 1990, when thousands of Kenyans gathered at Nairobi’s Kamukunji Grounds to demand political reforms and an end to the authoritarian one-party rule under then-President Daniel Arap Moi. Those demonstrations, led by figures like Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia, were met with brutal force, resulting in over 20 deaths, thousands of injuries, and numerous arrests. The legacy of Saba Saba remains a powerful symbol of resistance and the struggle for democratic freedoms in Kenya.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This year’s commemoration was overshadowed by a tense atmosphere as young Kenyans, inspired by the spirit of 1990, prepared to take to the streets to voice grievances against President William Ruto’s administration. The protests, largely organized by Gen Z activists, aimed to address ongoing issues of governance, corruption, economic injustice, and police brutality. The National Alternative Alliance, a coalition of political parties and civil society groups, had announced plans to rally Kenyans to honor Saba Saba Day while pressing demands for systemic reforms, including the dismissal of top security officials like Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and National Intelligence Services head Noordin Haji.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As early as 5 a.m., police sealed off key roads such as Waiyaki Way, Ngong Road, Jogoo Road, Mombasa Road, and Thika Road, effectively grounding public service vehicles and forcing commuters to navigate alternative routes. Traders in Nairobi’s CBD, wary of potential looting and violence reminiscent of the June 25, 2025, protests, cleared out their shops and closed businesses early. Schools across the city issued notices advising parents to keep students at home due to safety concerns, with many institutions citing the risk of confrontations between protesters and security forces.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The heavy police presence drew criticism from activists and community leaders. Church leaders condemned what they described as excessive force, specifically denouncing a "shoot-to-kill" directive reportedly issued by Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen in response to earlier demonstrations. The directive, which followed claims that protests were an attempted coup, has fueled accusations of authoritarian tactics reminiscent of the Moi era. Human rights activist Wanjira Wanjiru emphasized the significance of Saba Saba, stating, "It was the day people came out in open defiance of a brutal dictatorship. It was a day we reclaimed our voice."</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 2025 protests are rooted in a broader wave of youth-led demonstrations that began in mid-2024, initially sparked by opposition to the Finance Bill 2024/2025. Those protests, which saw at least 39 deaths and widespread reports of police brutality, culminated in the bill’s withdrawal but left a lingering sense of discontent. The unexplained death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody further galvanized anti-police sentiment, with many young Kenyans drawing parallels to the extrajudicial killings and abductions of the 1990s. Analyst Kithinji noted that while the 1990 protests had clear political leaders, today’s Gen Z-led movement is decentralized, lacking defined leadership or ethnic affiliations, which makes it both harder to suppress and more unpredictable.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Nairobi’s Member of County Assembly (MCA) representatives issued a joint statement disowning the protests, citing concerns over violence, tribal incitement, and political manipulation. They urged calm and dialogue, but their stance was met with skepticism by protesters who accused the government of deflecting accountability. The National Police Service (NPS) defended its actions, with spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga stating that protest organizers had failed to seek clearance as required by law. Nyaga acknowledged the constitutional right to demonstrate but warned that unnotified protests could lead to legal consequences.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The protests also highlighted Kenya’s evolving socio-political landscape. David Kyule, a scholar at the University of Nairobi, pointed out that today’s protesters are better educated than their 1990 counterparts, thanks to education rights enshrined in the 2010 Constitution. "They have come of age in a time of widespread suffering and unmet expectations," Kyule said, noting that issues like corruption, economic inequality, and state-sponsored violence remain unresolved. Nairobian Eliza Njoroge echoed this sentiment, reflecting on the enduring impact of Saba Saba: "They were disruptive, but made people very confident. They definitely changed Kenya, and the people realized they can speak up and that they have the power."</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite the lockdown, pockets of resistance emerged. Along Tom Mboya Street, a group of youths from the Shujaaz Memorial Concert at Uhuru Park clashed with anti-riot police, singing the national anthem in defiance as tear gas was deployed. Social media platforms buzzed with images of burning tires and protesters on Muindi Mbingu Street, underscoring the determination of Gen Z to keep the spirit of Saba Saba alive. Meanwhile, the government’s narrative that protesters were a destabilizing force was challenged by analysts who argued that such rhetoric was a tactic to maintain political control, mirroring strategies used in 1990.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As Nairobi navigates this latest chapter of civil unrest, the legacy of Saba Saba continues to inspire calls for accountability and reform. The heavy-handed response from authorities, coupled with the resilience of young protesters, suggests that Kenya’s struggle for democratic ideals is far from over. For now, the city remains on edge, with the echoes of 1990 reverberating through the streets as a new generation demands change.</p>
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