Kenyans Mark Saba Saba Day with Fear, Defiance and Renewed Calls for Justice

Kenyans commemorated Saba Saba Day under heavy security on Monday, with many citizens describing the anniversary as a powerful reminder that the country’s struggle for justice and democratic reforms remains unfinished.

The annual event, which marks the pro-democracy protests of July 7, 1990, unfolded amid a strong police presence across Nairobi, where authorities blocked planned demonstrations and detained several activists attempting to gather.

Police set up roadblocks throughout the capital, while plainclothes officers and unmarked vehicles were deployed in an effort to prevent large crowds from assembling. The security measures reflected the government’s increasingly firm stance on public protests and demonstrations.

Despite the restrictions, activists insisted that the significance of Saba Saba Day extends far beyond a historical commemoration.

Members of the Economic Justice Movement attempted to deliver a petition to Parliament demanding action against alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. However, police intervened before the group could reach Parliament.

“We’ve been met by brutal police who have denied us even to take this petition to Parliament,” activist Joshua Nyanjom said.

“So we are telling the members of the public that we are being hunted in our own country. We are being hunted in Kenya as if we are not part of Kenyans.”

For many campaigners, Saba Saba represents an ongoing struggle for democracy and accountability.

Activist James Mulamba said the anniversary is more than a remembrance of past events.

“To us, Saba Saba is more than a commemoration, it is more than nostalgia. It is a reminder of an unfinished struggle. Whatever our heroes were fighting for in 1990 has still not been achieved in 2026,” he said.

Over the years, Saba Saba Day has increasingly become a platform for demonstrations against corruption, the rising cost of living and allegations of police brutality under President William Ruto’s administration.

Human rights concerns also remained central to this year’s observance.

Siaya Governor and lawyer James Orengo said many of the issues that motivated the demonstrations remain unresolved.

“People are still being abducted. There are extrajudicial killings and a lot of people are being detained and prosecuted on trumped-up charges,” he said.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused Kenyan security forces of using excessive force during anti-government protests in recent years. The government and security agencies have denied the allegations.

While activists remained determined to honour the occasion, many ordinary Kenyans chose to stay away from demonstrations due to fears over their safety.

According to Kenya’s police watchdog, at least 127 people were killed during waves of protests in 2024 and 2025, contributing to widespread concerns about participating in public gatherings.

Despite the smaller crowds this year, campaigners argued that the spirit of Saba Saba remains alive and that demands for accountability, justice and democratic freedoms continue to resonate more than three decades after the original pro-democracy protests.

For many Kenyans, the anniversary serves as both a reminder of past sacrifices and a call to continue pushing for reforms that they believe are still needed today.