Why is Raila urging Kenyans to gather at Kamukunji?
ODM leader Raila Odinga has urged Kenyans to assemble at Kamukunji Grounds on Monday, July 7, to commemorate the historic Saba Saba protests. Speaking to the press on Sunday, Odinga said the fight for democracy and justice that began in 1990 remains unfinished. “We have not achieved what Saba Saba intended,” he said. “Violation of human rights is still a challenge in the country, police brutality is there, and the economy has not performed as we expected. Saba Saba was meant to bring people together for a common cause: change.”
Odinga confirmed he would personally attend the Kamukunji rally, the very site where pro-democracy activists first gathered 35 years ago to demand multiparty democracy under former President Daniel Moi’s authoritarian regime. “My idea is to call the people and go to Kamukunji, the first place where Saba Saba took place. I will be attending the Saba Saba at Kamukunji to remember those who were killed,” he stated.
What does Saba Saba mean to Kenya’s political history?
Saba Saba, Swahili for “Seven Seven,” marks July 7, 1990, a day Kenyans defied one-party rule by demanding political pluralism. The protests were met with violent crackdowns, but the movement eventually led to the repeal of Section 2A of the constitution, which had made Kenya a one-party state under the Kenya African National Union (KANU). The day remains a powerful symbol of Kenya’s journey toward democratic governance.
How has the government responded to the planned protests?
This year’s anniversary falls during a period of growing unrest against President William Ruto’s administration. Citizens have raised concerns over police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and the rising cost of living. Many institutions have advised students to stay home amid fears of unrest. Demonstrations in recent weeks have seen not only confrontations with police but also attacks by armed groups reportedly deployed to intimidate protesters.
Despite the tensions, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku made it clear that Monday is a working day. “Saba Saba is not a public holiday and all public servants are expected to report to their duty stations on time,” he said. Ruku also warned of disciplinary action: “Anyone who fails to report will have to produce a show-cause letter.”
By Lucky Anyanje
