Kenya’s 35th Saba Saba anniversary took a grim turn on Monday, July 7, 2025, as what began as peaceful commemorations quickly spiraled into one of the bloodiest protest days in recent memory. Marking the historic day that ignited Kenya’s push for multi-party democracy in 1990, citizens across at least 17 counties took to the streets to demand justice, economic relief, and an end to state repression. By nightfall, bodies lay in the streets, supermarkets smoldered, and families wept.
According to a statement issued by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), as of 6:30pm, they had documented 10 deaths, 29 injuries, 2 cases of abduction, and 37 arrests. The Commission also noted that significant police barricades were erected across major highways and entry points, severely disrupting the movement of people—particularly in the capital, Nairobi. Protesters, commuters, and business owners alike were caught in the gridlock, as Nairobi remained on partial lockdown for most of the day.
In some of the worst-hit areas, police clashed violently with protesters. In Kangemi, Nairobi County, two individuals were shot dead by anti-riot officers. Two others were killed in Ngong, and one protester was fatally shot in Kitengela. Kisumu also recorded at least two more deaths in street battles between police and protestors. Human rights observers fear the toll could rise as some victims remain unaccounted for and hospitals report critically wounded patients.
The trigger for this nationwide outrage was the recent death of teacher and activist Albert Ojwang, who allegedly died while in police custody. His death has become a flashpoint for widespread anger against the government’s economic policies—including the highly contested Finance Bill 2025—alongside police brutality, enforced disappearances, and unchecked corruption.
As tensions peaked, violent elements and suspected infiltrators hijacked the protests, leading to extensive property destruction. In Meru County, the renowned Magunas Supermarket was completely razed down. In Kirinyaga County, Kirinyaga Central CDF Hall in Kerugoya was set ablaze, and in Kagio town, demonstrators looted County Supermarket, emptying shelves and making away with electronics and food. Another supermarket was vandalized in Mwea, with glass shattered and merchandise stolen, leaving business owners counting losses.
Meanwhile, in Nairobi, police sealed off the Central Business District with roadblocks stretching from Pangani to Kenyatta Hospital roundabout and Nyayo Stadium junction. The heavy police deployment crippled movement, shut down malls and schools, and left many stranded. Videos captured from Mathare, Kibra, and Githurai showed clouds of tear gas, stampeding crowds, and heavily armed officers confronting demonstrators.
Chants for justice echoed across counties, with placards reading: “RIP Ojwang,” “No More Blood Tax,” and “We Want Justice, Not Bullets.” Some political undertones also emerged, with a Nakuru protester captured on video shouting: “Kama kazi imemshinda Ruto, atoke tupee Gachagua. Gachagua ndiye kingpin!” — a statement that underscores rising political friction within the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, speaking from Nyeri, condemned the violence but appealed for calm. Interior CS Kithure Kindiki reaffirmed the state’s resolve to prevent “criminal elements from hijacking democratic expression,” warning that those destroying property would face the full force of the law. President William Ruto, under pressure to respond to growing unrest, remained silent throughout the day.
What began as a remembrance of democratic struggle has instead become a painful reminder of how far the country still has to go. As Kenya buries its dead, treats its wounded, and picks up the pieces from looted shops and burnt halls, the question lingers: Has the dream of Saba Saba been betrayed, or is it being reborn in protest?
