Fearless and tribeless spirit of Saba Saba has been rekindled in youths

Youth during Gen Z anniversary protest in Nairobi, on June 25, 2025. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Kenya is experiencing tough times as things go wrong and those in charge appear lost and seemingly not to know what they do. There are other times when Kenya experienced disturbing reality. There was the original Saba Saba of Saturday, July 7, 1990 when Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia applied for a licence to hold a rally at Kamkunji. The licence was denied and, as law abiding citizens, they called off the rally. The two were detained on July 4, 1990. But these leaders, the people still went to Kamkunji ‘leaderless, fearless, partyless, and tribeless.’ Three days of confrontation with the police showed that Kenyans had lost fear. Thereafter, the initiative for action shifted from the government to wananchi.