Youth reignite spirit of Saba Saba with concert

‘‘It will be peaceful, and the Nairobi County government has given us a permit to use the grounds, so we urge you all to come out in large numbers,” said Boniface Mwangi.

Njeru Kathangu, one of the original planners of the Saba Saba movement, compared the current state of activism in Kenya to that of 1990.

‘‘Back then, we were talking to each other using landlines, knowing our conversations were tapped by the Special Branch. It was very difficult to communicate freely,” said Njeru.

Despite the differences in communication methods, Kathangu highlighted a significant similarity between the two eras.

“The stage is the same. The Saba Saba of 1990 resembles the current movement because of the greed of leaders, impunity, and creeping repression and dictatorship. This is what is happening in Kenya now,” he said.

Kathangu pointed out that President William Ruto, despite being newly elected, is not exempt from the issues created by the previous regime.

“Ruto has just come into leadership. Nevertheless, he still belonged to the presidency in the last 10 to 12 years. He cannot preclude himself from the mess caused by the past regime,” Kathangu said.

He drew parallels between the demands of the past and present movements: “In 1990, Saba Saba was about the introduction of multi-party politics, reducing opulence, and greed in government. Today, the young people are fighting against continuous borrowing, feeding the stomachs of leaders, and the blatant disregard of the law.”

Kathangu highlighted the economic disparity in Kenya, stating that “only 300,000 Kenyans are benefiting directly from the government’s programmes. The rest of Kenyans are wallowing in poverty’’.

Expressing his pride and support for the young generation, Kathangu said, “The young people are justified to do what they are doing. If their grandparents and fathers are unable, they are supposed to be the national warriors. That is their qualification—fighting for the nation and their communities.” In a statement, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) emphasised the alarming parallels between the repression faced by protesters during the Saba Saba demonstrations in 1990 and the current methods employed by the government.

The ICJ remarked, “The repressive tactics reminiscent of President Daniel arap Moi’s regime, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and the use of excessive force, highlight a disturbing regression in the protection of human rights in Kenya.”