Every year on July 7th, Kenyans observe Saba Saba Day, a powerful date in the country’s political history that marks the struggle for democracy and civil rights.
This day commemorates a major protest movement that began in 1990 to push for multiparty democracy and challenge the authoritarian rule of President Daniel Arap Moi and the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the only legal political party at the time.
The movement gained momentum when prominent opposition leaders Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga called for a major political rally to be held at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi on July 7, 1990.
Their goal was to demand the introduction of multiparty democracy in Kenya. However, the Moi government declared the rally illegal, banning it entirely.
Despite the government’s prohibition, the people defied the ban. Protesters gathered in large numbers, leading to violent confrontations across the country.
Riot police cracked down on demonstrators using brutal force. Many protestors were arrested, detained without trial, and some even lost their lives.
Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia, both key organizers of the rally, were among those arrested and held in detention. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, though not arrested, served as a symbol of resistance and lent his support to the push for democratic reform.
Another key figure during this time was James Orengo, a young and fiery lawyer who gave bold speeches in support of democracy during that period. He was later detained for his activism. Raila Odinga, son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, also became a strong supporter of the movement.
He had already suffered detention between 1982 and 1988 for his involvement in earlier pro-democracy efforts and would continue to play a major role in Kenya’s political transformation.
Koigi wa Wamwere, a human rights defender, also joined the resistance. He was arrested in 1990 for calling for civil liberties and continued to speak out against injustices in the years that followed.
In the same year, Wangari Maathai, a passionate environmentalist and women’s rights activist, criticized the government for its repression and helped mobilize grassroots women’s movements to demand justice.
Over the decades that followed, many more leaders carried on the spirit of Saba Saba:
- In 1997, Koigi wa Wamwere led demonstrations condemning election rigging.
- Raila Odinga became even more prominent in Kenyan politics, leading protests and public campaigns in 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2023. He challenged the Moi regime, campaigned against flawed constitutional reforms, and organized protests against high taxes, youth unemployment, and electoral malpractice.
- In 2003, Wangari Maathai led a peaceful procession calling for justice for the environment and the return of grabbed land to communities.
- Around the same time, Paul Muite, a respected politician and lawyer, pushed for a new constitution that truly reflected the will of the people. He was instrumental in mobilizing opposition to the 2005 constitutional referendum.
- In 2008, Maina Kiai, a human rights advocate, held a vigil in memory of those who died during the post-election violence that rocked Kenya after the disputed 2007 polls.
- In 2010, constitutional experts and activists like Ndung’u Wainaina and Gladwell Otieno celebrated the passing of the new constitution, declaring it a victory of the spirit of Saba Saba.
- By 2013, young activists such as Boniface Mwangi and Gladwell Otieno took the fight to the streets again, this time protesting police brutality and the ongoing injustices around land grabbing.
- In 2014, Boniface Mwangi led youth-led demonstrations to expose corruption in government and highlight the issue of extrajudicial killings by police forces.
- Harun Ndubi, a human rights lawyer, was arrested in 2016 during a peaceful protest that aimed to hold security forces accountable for killings and abuse.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Boniface Akumu mobilized youth in areas like Mathare and Kayole to protest against police violence and the harsh economic impact of the lockdown on low-income families.
- That same year, activist Gacheke Gachihi spoke out against the growing number of youth killed by police in poor neighborhoods.
- In 2021, Jerotich Seii, a vocal human rights defender, led a symbolic Saba Saba protest walk in Nairobi under the slogan “We Are Tired”, demanding justice, equality, and an end to government neglect and corruption.
- In 2024, Kenyans held a large commemorative concert to honor those who had died during past protests and to reflect on the country’s long journey towards democratic freedoms.
From the early days of violent repression to the modern-day fight against inequality and corruption, Saba Saba remains a symbol of the people’s resilience and the power of collective action.
It is a reminder that the freedoms Kenyans enjoy today were not given freely — they were fought for by brave individuals who risked everything to ensure the country’s political future would be one of choice, fairness, and dignity.
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