According to the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), anti-government protests on Saba Saba Day turned into lethal altercations between protesters and police on Monday, resulting in at least ten fatalities nationwide.
Saba Saba, which means “Seven Seven” in Swahili, honors the July 7, 1990, uprising by Kenyans calling for an end to the country’s decades-long one-party system under Daniel arap Moi. The event has come to represent the fight for democratic rights and the public’s resistance to dictatorial rule.
However, this year’s celebrations turned violent as thousands of people took to the streets once more in protest of police brutality, corruption, and economic stagnation.
President William Ruto’s administration has been accused by many young Kenyans of betraying them by not fulfilling campaign pledges.
The KNCHR stated in its statement that it had recorded 29 injuries and 10 fatalities in 17 counties, but it provided no more information. Additionally, the rights group charged that the police were collaborating with criminal gangs to intimidate protesters and undermine the demonstrations.
According to the committee,”We observed criminal gangs wielding crude weapons; whips, wooden clubs, machetes, spears, bows and arrows, operating alongside police officers in some areas,”
As anti-riot police used tear gas on demonstrators, who then threw rocks and stole stores, there were ongoing clashes on the outskirts of Nairobi, according to AP. In a direct attack on the president, several protesters held signs that said, “Ruto Must Go,” and chanted, “wantam,” which is slang for “one term.” Heavy security roadblocks blocked major routes leading to the city center, the epicenter of earlier rallies, effectively closing down the heart of Nairobi. Fearing looting, businesses closed, leaving the normally busy capital strangely empty.
The National Police Service admitted that criminal elements had infiltrated protests, but rejected the rights commission’s allegations as “lacking factualness.” It maintained that the security presence had contributed to a decrease in violence and looting, and pledged that those who committed any crimes would be held accountable. However, a lot of demonstrators claim that the government itself has paid armed gangs to take over gatherings and cause mayhem, thereby undercutting their justifiable complaints.
Less than two weeks have passed since another deadly protest day on June 25th, when 19 people were killed in conflicts, when Monday’s tragedy occurred. The opposition leaders and activists contend that every brutal repression just strengthens the public’s resolve, while the government has characterized the protests as an attempted coup.
Kenya’s political future is uncertain ahead of the 2027 election because Ruto and Raila Odinga, the leader of the main opposition, have struck an acrimonious truce since his victory in 2022. However, as resentment spills onto the streets, many worry that the cycle of protests and violence will simply continue in the absence of communication.
