Raila calls for peaceful Saba Saba
ODM leader Raila Odinga.
What you need to know:
- Former Prime Minister lamented that the true meaning of Saba Saba has been distorted by some politicians for selfish interests.
- Kenya marks 35 years since the inaugural Saba Saba rally of July 7, 1990, a protest that ignited the struggle for multiparty democracy.
ODM leader Raila Odinga on Sunday called for peace as the country marks the historic Saba Saba Day amid a wave of Gen Z-led protests that have rocked the nation in recent weeks.
Mr Odinga, a long-time Opposition figure, announced that he will lead his supporters to the historic Kamukunji Grounds where he is expected to address national issues and honour the spirit of Saba Saba.
The former Prime Minister lamented that the true meaning of Saba Saba has been distorted by some politicians for selfish interests and personal relevance.
“Kamukunji has a very historical meaning. If you want to remember Saba Saba, then go to Kamukunji. If we are talking about protesting, where is it going to start and end? Let us go to Kamukunji and remember the rights of those who died fighting for the people,” Mr Odinga said from his Karen home in Nairobi.
“Saba Saba was meant to bring people together for a common cause and Kamukunji has hosted key rallies for reforms. The first rallies for pre-independence and second liberation struggles were all held at Kamukunji,” he added.
In previous regimes, Mr Odinga has commemorated Saba Saba while in the Opposition. However, this year’s observance will be different following his partnership with President William Ruto at the height of the Gen Z protests in June 2024.
Since then, he has shown a softer stance toward the Kenya Kwanza government.
The move has alienated some youth who argue that his new political alignment has derailed their push for regime change and accountability.
Inaugural Saba Saba rally
“If we are going to remember Saba Saba, then let’s go to Kamukunji. The road should lead to Kamukunji. I have always gone there, even quietly, on Saba Saba Day to remember those who lost their lives,” said Mr Odinga.
He insisted that his main purpose in going to Kamukunji this year is to honour the memory of those who died fighting for reforms.
Kenya marks 35 years since the inaugural Saba Saba rally of July 7, 1990, a protest that ignited the struggle for multiparty democracy.
That fight bore fruit in December 1991 when then-President Daniel Arap Moi agreed to the repeal of Section 2A, ending the one-party state.
This year’s commemoration comes as Mr Odinga admits the country has not fully achieved what Saba Saba stood for.
Despite the 2010 Constitution, he cited ongoing human rights violations, the brutal suppression of dissent and a weak economy that continues to hurt ordinary Kenyans.
The opposition chief recounted the struggles that Kenya has endured post-independence and during the second liberation, calling for peace as the country marks Saba Saba.
Apart from Mr Odinga, other notable figures in the second liberation struggle include Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, Mukhisa Kituyi, Paul Muite, Njeri Kathangu, and Kiraitu Murungi, among others.