Activist Francis Awino./HANDOUT
Human rights activists have written to police chiefs expressing their intention to hold peaceful demonstrations in Nairobi to commemorate Saba Saba Day.
The Grassroots Economic Justice Movement on Sunday wrote to Inspector General Douglas Kanja, asking the police to facilitate the demonstration by providing appropriate security and traffic management.
The movement’s national convenor, Francis Awino, said they will commemorate Saba Saba Day by presenting a petition to Parliament on Tuesday.
The activists will converge at Jevanjee Gardens in Nairobi before marching through the Central Business District to Parliament Buildings to present the petition to the Speaker and members of both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The petition seeks the intervention of lawmakers on alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, excessive use of force by security officers, and the strengthening of police accountability and oversight mechanisms.
They also want MPs to ensure the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights and the rule of law.
The peaceful procession is expected to start at 9am. About 3,000 civil society members, activists, human rights defenders, youth, religious leaders, professionals, students and concerned members of the public are expected to participate.
“Participants shall remain peaceful, unarmed and orderly throughout the procession,” the letter reads.
Awino said the organisers of the demonstration undertake to conduct a peaceful procession, encourage participants to remain peaceful, and cooperate fully with the police in maintaining law and order.
Saba Saba commemorates the historic 1990 pro-democracy protests that successfully pressured the government into repealing the single-party system.
It serves as a powerful symbol of people power and is often marked by civil action and memorial marches to demand justice and government accountability.
