Kenya's Ongoing Struggle: From Saba Saba to Police Brutality
How a historic day of democratic resistance connects to today's fight against state violence ?
💡 Key Insight
As Kenya approaches July 7th—Saba Saba Day—the nation finds itself grappling with the same fundamental issues that sparked pro-democracy protests 35 years ago. While the specific grievances have evolved, the underlying struggle against authoritarian governance and state violence remains painfully relevant.
The Legacy of Saba Saba: July 7, 1990
📅 Historical Context
Saba Saba Day, meaning "Seven Seven" in Swahili, commemorates one of the most pivotal moments in Kenya's democratic journey. On July 7, 1990, opposition leaders Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga called for a rally at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi, demanding an end to one-party rule and the introduction of multiparty democracy.
The seismic Saba Saba event was the first serious organised challenge to repression through defiance in Kenya.
The government's response was swift and brutal. The organizers were arrested days before the protest, with Matiba and Rubia severely beaten while in custody. Other activists, including Raila Odinga, faced similar treatment under President Daniel arap Moi's regime. The phrase "Saba Saba" became so powerful that Moi prohibited its very use, demonstrating the government's fear of the pro-democracy movement.
Despite the violent crackdown, the protests achieved their goal. Within two weeks, President Moi announced the formation of a commission to review the constitution, marking the beginning of Kenya's transition to multiparty democracy.
From Tax Protests to Police Brutality: The 2024-2025 Cycle
🔄 The Cycle Continues
The spirit of Saba Saba lives on in Kenya's current protest movements, which have evolved from economic grievances to fundamental questions about state violence and accountability.
The most recent wave of major protests began in 2024 when Gen Z activists mobilized against the Finance Bill, which proposed new taxes on essential items including bread, diapers, and smartphones. On June 25, 2024, protesters stormed Parliament in Nairobi after the controversial bill was approved, with 19 people shot dead by police. The building was partially set on fire, and the ceremonial mace was stolen in unprecedented scenes of civil unrest.
The protests brought to the surface grievances surrounding unemployment, government corruption, and the high cost of living.
The protests brought to the surface deeper grievances about unemployment, government corruption, and the high cost of living. After 23 reported deaths, President William Ruto rejected the finance bill and sent it back to parliament for amendments.
The 2025 Police Brutality Protests
The death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old blogger and teacher, in police custody in June 2025 became the catalyst for renewed protests. Initially, police claimed Ojwang had died from self-inflicted wounds after being arrested for allegedly insulting a deputy police chief. However, an autopsy report revealed he had been brutally beaten to death, contradicting the official police account.
The savage beating to death of Albert Ojwang and the subsequent attempts to cover this up shatters once more the reputation of the leadership of the Kenyan Police Service.
The protests commemorating the anniversary of the 2024 demonstrations on June 25, 2025, turned deadly once again. According to Amnesty International Kenya, 16 people were killed and approximately 400 injured in a single day, with most deaths caused by police gunfire.
The Accountability Crisis: Numbers Don't Lie
500+
Police Killings
Documented 2019-2021
6
Convictions
From 2,000+ cases since 2013
0.3%
Conviction Rate
Justice System Failure
The statistics paint a devastating picture of police impunity in Kenya:
Over 500 killings by police were documented between 2019 and 2021
157 cases of police killings were recorded during 2020 alone
Only 6 convictions have resulted from more than 2,000 cases under investigation since 2013
One in three Kenyans have experienced police abuse or harassment
33% of Kenyans perceive police as the greatest human rights violators
The level of accountability within police agencies in Kenya is very low. They operate with impunity, because they know they will get away with it.
This represents a conviction rate of just 0.3%, explaining why police continue to operate with impunity.
The Cover-Up Pattern: Autopsies vs. Police Reports
🔍 Case Study: The Pattern of Deception
Perhaps most damning is the systematic pattern of cover-ups revealed through autopsy reports that consistently contradict police versions of events:
The Charles Owino Case:
Police Report: 19-year-old died in a road accident
Autopsy Reality: Killed by gunshot to the head during protests
Evidence: Hyperinflated lungs, bruises on head, neck, and limbs
The Albert Ojwang Case:
Police Report: Committed suicide in custody
Autopsy Reality: Brutally beaten to death
Outcome: Police chief forced to apologize after independent autopsy
Prior to drowning, something else happened.
⚠️ Systematic Record Manipulation
Police logbooks routinely underreport or misclassify deaths, with only one gunshot death officially recorded during the most violent days of protest despite multiple documented killings.
A Continuing Struggle
🔄 The Unbroken Chain
The connection between Saba Saba Day and today's protests is clear: both represent popular resistance against state oppression and demands for democratic accountability. While the 1990 protests focused on ending one-party rule, today's demonstrations highlight the persistence of authoritarian practices within Kenya's democratic framework.
The issues that drive Kenyans to the streets—police brutality, corruption, economic hardship, and lack of accountability—echo the same grievances that made Saba Saba necessary 35 years ago. The fact that young Kenyans continue to risk their lives for democratic principles shows both the enduring power of that historic moment and the tragic reality that many of its promises remain unfulfilled.
Saba Saba has not remained static. In the 1990s, the focus was clear: end one-party rule. By the 2000s, the demands shifted toward constitutional reform and environmental rights. The 2010s spotlighted police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and growing inequality.
As Kenya observes Saba Saba Day in 2025, the question remains whether the country will finally address the systemic issues that have plagued it for decades, or whether future generations will continue to pay the price for state violence and impunity. The blood of Albert Ojwang and the other victims of police brutality demands nothing less than the complete transformation of Kenya's security apparatus and a return to the democratic ideals that Saba Saba Day represents.
💭 Reflection
The struggle for democracy, it seems, is not a destination but a continuous journey—one that requires vigilance, courage, and the willingness to say "enough" when those in power abuse their authority.
📅 Timeline of Resistance
- 1990: Saba Saba pro-democracy protests
- 2024: Gen Z Finance Bill protests
- 2025: Police brutality protests
