Saba Saba, the fateful day on which Kenya’s struggle for multiparty democracy took the most decisive turn, is iconic and historical.
It is a day rivalled only by the present day Mashujaa Day, previously Kenyatta Day that celebrates the arrest and detention of the freedom fighters jointly called the Kapenguria Six.
It is regrettable that the recognition and remembrance of Saba Saba has not been consistent in its short 35-year history.
One moment it is important.
The next moment it is not.
On this 35th anniversary of Saba Saba, we decided to remember and to set the record straight on its significance, what it was and is, and what we ought to do with the foundation it laid for the country.
Before that day, some patriotic Kenyans had demanded the repeal of Section 2A of the constitution.
A number of people including Kenneth Matiba, Raila Odinga, Mohammed Ibrahim, Gitobu Imanyara and Charles Rubia, among others were arrested and detained.
It is quite unfortunate that some of the people we were fighting then and who sanctioned those arrests are trying to hide behind Saba to advance their political fortunes.
On the fateful day – July 7, 1990 – thousands of Kenyans tried to gather at the historic Kamkunji grounds to take stock of the past, the state of the nation, and chart a path of freedom forward.
We decided that Saba would be a march for political freedom and liberty, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of expression and a new democratic constitution founded on multipartysm.
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