By Chris David.
Thirty-five years ago, on July 7, 1990, Kenya witnessed a political earthquake. A group of opposition leaders and pro-democracy activists, defying a ban on public assembly, organized a protest rally that would go down in history as the birth of the country’s modern democratic movement in a then much needed revolution.
Today, as Kenyans mark Saba Saba Day, the echoes of that momentous day reverberate louder than ever before with growing public discontent over poor governance, burdenous economic hardship and the state of civil liberties under the current administration.
The Original Saba Saba: A Defiant Cry for Multiparty Democracy.
The first Saba Saba rally took place during the presidency of Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. His regime had outlawed opposition parties under Section 2A of the Constitution thus making Kenya a de jure one-party state.
The Kenya African National Union (KANU) ruled with an iron fist. Any dissent was met with intimidation, arrest or death in extreme scenarios.
In May 1990, two former Cabinet ministers, Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia, publicly called for the restoration of multiparty democracy. They were later joined by other prominent and more experienced political figures, including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Martin Shikuku and various bold civil rights activists who dared to challenge President Moi’s grip on power.
The government responded with extreme cruelty. Matiba and Rubia were arrested and detained without trial. Despite the intense crackdown, pro-democracy supporters didn’t budge.
On July 7, 1990, citizens gathered at Nairobi’s Kamukunji Grounds to demand democratic reforms. The protest quickly turned violent, as security forces moved in with brutal force. Police fired live bullets and tear gas at unarmed demonstrators. Many fatalities were reported, hundreds were injured and many more protesters were arrested.
One of the more influential figures, Raila Odinga, although already in detention at the time, would later emerge as a central voice in the reform movement that followed.
The happenings of that historic day shook the nation and the world at large. The brutality showcased by law enforcement agencies was heavily and widely condemned and it became increasingly clear that the Moi regime was losing its grip on power.
The pressure eventually forced the government to annul Section 2A of the Constitution in December 1991, officially restoring a multiparty political system in the country. This officially paved the way for the first multiparty elections that took place in 1992.
Legacy and Achievements of Saba Saba.
Saba Saba stands today as a powerful symbol of resistance, sacrifice and the long road to freedom. It marked the beginning of a democratic transition that resulted in the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, a charter hailed for its progressive values, protection of human rights and devolution of power.
The day also became a rallying point for civil society, human rights defenders and opposition forces demanding accountability from successive governments. It fortified the idea that citizen power could challenge state power and that democracy in Kenya was not a gift from leaders, but a right won through extensive struggle.
Saba Saba in 2025: Echoes of the Past.
In 2025, the political landscape is dramatically different on paper but many Kenyans argue with good reason that the spirit of authoritarianism never truly left.
Under President William Ruto’s administration, the country has seen increasing public dissatisfaction over what many describe as economic mismanagement, over-taxation, and democratic backsliding. The controversial Finance Bill of 2024 sparked widespread Gen-Z-led protests, which drew direct comparisons to the first Saba Saba of 1990.
While Kenya today operates under a multiparty system and rightfully boasts one of Africa’s most progressive constitutions, critics point to a rise in police brutality, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings and use of force to suppress protests, especially those organized by young people, activists and opposition politicians.
Civil society organizations have documented increasing limitations to the right to assemble, with authorities deploying riot police against demonstrators, even in peaceful protests as seen both today and on June 25, 2025.
The # RejectFinanceBill2024/2025, # 77sirininumbers, # occupyuntilvictory and # RutoMustGo campaigns, largely driven by Gen-Z activists on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), have reawakened the spirit of citizen resistance.
Just as the 1990 Saba Saba protesters risked their lives to speak truth to power, today’s youth are risking arrest and injury to demand government accountability, economic reforms and respect for constitutional rights as they seek to secure their future in our motherland, Kenya.
Comparisons with the Moi Era.
Many Kenyans, especially those old enough to remember the dark days of the Moi regime, have begun drawing crystal clear parallels between the current UDA administration and the repressive KANU government of the early ’90s.
During Moi’s time, dissent was criminalized, media freedoms heavily curtailed and opposition silenced through unlawful detentions. Today, critics argue that while the trappings of democracy remain, the state increasingly relies on intimidation, unlawful surveillance and excessive policing to quash opposition voices.
The economic grievances are also unsurprisingly familiar. In 1990, Kenyans struggled under IMF-imposed austerity measures and critically rising poverty levels. In 2025, they are protesting punitive taxes, ballooning of the public debt level and a deepening cost-of-living crisis due to inflation. Just like back in the day, citizens are demanding political inclusion and economic justice among other demands.
Conclusion: A Struggle Renewed.
Saba Saba no longer serves as just a date, it is a wake up call, a stern call to vigilance, a reminder that democratic gains can be rolled back if citizens do not remain engaged and assertive in national matters.
For a new generation of Kenyans, many of whom were not yet born in 1990, the lessons of Saba Saba are taking on urgent meaning as they confront a government they believe is turning away from the people’s will.
As the nation marks this significant day, the voices of the past mingle with those of the present. From the Kamukunji Grounds to online spaces, Kenyans are once again standing up for their rights, demanding that the promise of democracy be fulfilled not just in name but in action.
“We fought for this democracy. We bled for it. We won’t let it slip through our fingers again,” said a protester in Nairobi, echoing the defiance of a generation that once stood fearlessly before guns in Kamukunji. The spirit of Saba Saba lives on!