NAIROBI, Kenya – On Monday, July 7, 2025, Kenya will commemorate 25 years since Kenyans took to the streets on July 7, 1990, to demand multiparty democracy.
Dubbed “Saba Saba”, the Swahili phrase means “Seven Seven” and alludes to July 7.
Since the Saba Saba Movement was founded on July 7, 1990, this date is important in Kenyan history.
The first gathering of this broad-based coalition movement resulted in protests, some of which turned violent and led to criminal activity.
The ‘Nane Nane’ and ‘Tisa Tisa’ monthly protests that followed the first date demonstrated the movement’s enduring impact.
How the Saba Saba movement changed the history of Kenya
In June 1982, then-President Daniel Arap Moi’s government changed the law to make Kenya an official one-party country, meaning no other political parties were allowed.
By 1990, public frustration was rising over corruption, repression, lack of political freedom, economic hardship and police brutality.
On July 1, 1990, Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia called for a rally at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi to demand political reforms. The government banned it immediately.
To stop the planned rally, the government arrested key opposition leaders, including Matiba, Rubia, Raila Odinga, Martin Shikuku, and George Anyona.
In July 1990, people in six towns across Kenya marched to demand free elections and an end to one-party rule. Police responded with force, killing 20 people and arresting 1,056 others.
Why the forthcoming Saba Saba anniversary is critical to Kenyans
This year’s Saba Saba anniversary comes amid rising public fury stemming from government failures, widespread youth unemployment, and gross human violations.
National Alternative Alliance Convener Arnold Maliba and other lobby leaders have issued fresh ultimatums to President William Ruto ahead of these celebrations.
They want the head of state to highlight the grievances faced by Kenyans and propose urgent measures to prevent further national crises.
“Unless deliberate efforts are made to de-escalate the rising tensions, our country risks sliding into chaos. To whom much is given, much is expected. As the leader of this nation, you must act decisively to calm the situation and create an environment for genuine dialogue in national healing,” said Maliba.
According to Maliba, the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration should immediately cease abductions and extrajudicial killings and withdraw all charges against activists and citizens arrested for just exercising their constitutional right under Article 37.
“You need to release all those activists unconditionally. It is imperative to compensate all the families of all those killed and those injured during the demonstrations in 2024 and June 2024. It is also not just enough to announce that we have waived medical bills for these victims. Government and political actors implicated in violence against protesters must be arrested, including all those supporting, funding and making inflammatory remarks,” Maliba added.
How the bicameral parliament can support President Ruto
Maliba observed that this, the Alliance believes, will help create goodwill that will see Kenyans now talk to each other as one people and demonstrate that the president respects the constitution.
“We are also asking the president to depoliticise the security agencies and to stop weaponising the criminal justice system against dissent. In addition, leaders in both the National Assembly and the Senate should be directed to at least move a motion so that Parliament establishes a special committee to examine the Gen-Z protests, because I feel by now that has not been done, and propose solutions after getting to the root cause of that,” he explained.
Further, the National Alternative Alliance asked the president to stop persecuting the media and civil society.
“The National Alternative Alliance proposes an urgent establishment of a national dialogue framework that is multisectoral, inclusive and time-bound. Not a tokenistic report; they did it last year. We need something that will involve the faith-based and civil society. It should also be civic-led, not represented by the political elites or the government. This dialogue should address the intergenerational vices, economic hardships, corruption, job creation and youth inclusion, among other pressing national challenges,” explained Maliba.
He pointed an accusing finger at the ruling administration, claiming that it had consistently failed to fulfil the aspirations of Kenyans.
“The people you have appointed to help deliver your vision are failing the nation. Recycling the same individuals in critical positions has yielded little progress and fuelled public frustration. While you are passionate about the Kenya Kwanza manifesto you call “The Plan”, the truth is that if it were truly working, Kenya wouldn’t be experiencing the current turmoil,” he said.
How President Ruto can help bring down the rising temperatures
Maliba urgently called upon the president to undertake a radical midterm review of his administration.
“If the president wants the temperatures to go down, we urgently ask him to recalibrate his security sector. We are boldly asking him to crack the whip on the Interior CS, Police IG, the two DIGs, and the NIS DG, who have failed to address the issue of abductions. If the president wishes that Monday looks different, we ask him to move very fast and address these issues. The president will have to choose either his friends or the nation. He will have to choose either to be the president of Kenya or a friend to the people who are failing him in delivering his mandate to Kenyans,” observed Maliba.
The group also observed that the Kenya Kwanza administration is marred by various corruption scandals, yet there are no efforts to address this situation decisively.
“The result is widespread perception of a government lacking integrity and accountability. Kenyans do not want lectures. They demand concrete action. The scandals weighing down on your administration are many,” Maliba further said.
