- In Kenya, Saba Saba Day is remembered as the day when nationwide protests took place.
- This was when Kenyans took to the streets to demand free elections.
Image: COURTESY
Azimio leader Raila Odinga is set to lead a major rally on July 7 at the historic Kamukunji grounds.
July 7 is undoubtedly an important and eventful date in the history of the country.
Raila said the rally aims to force President William Ruto to repeal the Finance Act, which he signed on Monday.
However, some leaders have come out to tell Raila to call off the planned rally.
Kikuyu Council of Elders led by national chairman Wachira Kiago requested Raila to reach out to President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua for dialogue.
"I'm humbly appealing to Raila Odinga and his team to stop the planned demonstrations and reach out to the government, we need peace and unity for the benefit of the country and our generations," Kiago said.
A brief history
July 7 traces back to the year 1990 when pro-democracy demonstrations were held throughout the country.
The phrase, Saba Saba, is so powerful that President Daniel Moi prohibited its use.
In Kenya, Saba Saba Day is remembered as one when nationwide protests took place. This was when Kenyans took to the streets to demand free elections.
Former politicians Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia called for the protests and were arrested a day earlier. Raila was also part of the team.
They wanted multiparty democracy and political pluralism.
The meeting point was Kamukunji on July 7, hence the Saba Saba term as it was the seventh day of the seventh month.
They were beaten and detained by former President Moi's government.
The riots took place in different parts of the country and were marred with violence and killings.
The Saba Saba of 1990 was the first time the country experienced open political defiance and public agitation for change.
This was the beginning of years of underground political organisations for democratic rule and multi-partyism.
Prior to the first Saba Saba, political dissent was countered with detention without trial, torture and in many cases, death.
In 1991, Section 2A of the Constitution, which declared Kenya a one-party state, was repealed and multipartyism was introduced.
Kenyans could now form and belong to other political parties besides Kanu.
For the past few years, human rights groups and activists have organised protests every Saba Saba Day.
In their marches, lobbyists have pushed for respect for human rights, an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings.