Nairobi
On July 7, 2025, Kenya’s streets pulsed with the echoes of a 35-year-old cry for freedom. Known as Saba Saba—Swahili for “Seven Seven”—this day commemorates the 1990 protests that shook the foundations of Daniel arap Moi’s one-party rule, demanding multiparty democracy. In 2025, the 35th anniversary, Kenyans once again took to the streets, not just to honor history but to confront ongoing struggles: corruption, police brutality, and unaccountable governance. This feature story maps the geography of the 2025 Saba Saba protests, tracing their roots and resonance across Kenya’s urban and rural landscapes, where the spirit of resistance remains unyielding.
Nairobi: The Heart of Resistance
Nairobi, the epicenter of Kenya’s political life, has always been the crucible for Saba Saba. In 1990, Kamukunji Grounds was the rallying point where opposition leaders like Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga defied Moi’s ban, sparking nationwide unrest. On July 7, 2025, Kamukunji was again a focal point, though former Prime Minister Raila Odinga canceled a planned appearance due to police roadblocks sealing off the city center. Protesters clashed with police in Kangemi, where a Reuters reporter witnessed officers firing on demonstrators, leaving one man motionless on the road with a bleeding wound. In Pipeline and Kawangware, tear gas canisters rained into residential estates, blurring the line between public protest and private sanctuary. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported two abductions, 29 injuries, and 37 arrests in Nairobi alone, underscoring the city’s volatile role in the 2025 protests.
Uhuru Park, another Nairobi landmark, has evolved into a space for remembrance. In 2024, activist Boniface Mwangi organized a memorial concert here for those killed in anti-government protests, a tradition that carried into 2025 as mourners honored the 11 lives lost on Saba Saba day. The park’s open grounds, once a stage for political rallies, now host melodies of resilience, blending grief with hope.
Mombasa: The Coastal Crossroads
In Mombasa, the Saba Saba intersection—named either for the 1990 protests or a local pub—stands as a symbol of coastal resistance. On July 7, 2025, organizers from Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) chose this busy junction as the starting point for their march, departing from the traditional Elephant Tusks route. Despite plans for peaceful demonstrations, the city saw minimal protest activity by 10 a.m., with businesses continuing as usual. Mombasa’s history of advocating for majimbo (devolution) and addressing land injustices ties its Saba Saba protests to broader regional grievances, though 2025’s subdued turnout suggested a cautious approach amid fears of police crackdowns.
Nakuru: The Rift Valley’s Restless Heart
Nakuru, a key urban center in the Rift Valley, was a ghost town on July 7, 2025. Youth barricaded the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway with bonfires, disrupting transport and drawing heavy police response. The KNCHR noted police collaboration with “armed criminal gangs” in Nakuru, a chilling echo of 1997’s Saba Saba, when Moi’s forces were stretched thin to quell nationwide riots. Nakuru’s protests reflect the region’s complex ethnic and economic tensions, amplified by the 2025 demands for accountability.
Meru: Flames of Defiance
In Meru County, eastern Kenya, the town of Makutano became a flashpoint when a shopping center was engulfed in flames during the 2025 protests. Clouds of black smoke rose as protesters blocked roads with stones, and police fired live bullets, injuring at least one man in Maua town. Meru’s unrest highlights how Saba Saba’s call for justice resonates in rural areas, where economic marginalization fuels dissent.
Kisii: Rewriting the Protest Playbook
Kisii offered a striking contrast in 2025. Instead of violent clashes, Gen Z protesters played street games, catching riot police off guard. This creative defiance, captured by K24 TV, showcased a new generation’s approach to resistance—blending humor with resolve. Kisii’s actions reflect the evolving nature of Saba Saba, where youth leverage social media and innovation to amplify their message.
Other Counties: A Nationwide Echo
The 2025 Saba Saba protests rippled across at least 17 counties, including Kiambu, Nyeri, Kajiado, Narok, and Uasin Gishu. In Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, one protester was shot dead, while in Karatina, Nyeri, four sustained gunshot wounds. Schools closed, and businesses fortified premises, bracing for chaos. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were deployed along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, signaling the state’s determination to suppress unrest. Social media buzzed with protest maps and hashtags, a digital echo of the 1990s’ underground pamphlets.
The Historical Tapestry
Saba Saba’s roots trace to 1990, when Moi’s regime faced a unified push for multipartyism. The brutal response—over 20 deaths and thousands arrested—galvanized Kenyans, leading to the repeal of Section 2A in 1991. By 1997, the National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) organized another Saba Saba protest, demanding electoral reforms with the clarion call “No Reforms, No Elections.” The Moi administration’s manipulation through ethnicity and violence diluted some demands, but Saba Saba cemented its place as a symbol of civic resistance.
In the 2000s, Saba Saba evolved to champion constitutional reforms and human rights. By the 2010s, it focused on police accountability and economic fairness. In 2024, Gen Z’s #RejectFinanceBill2024 movement reignited the Saba Saba spirit, with 39 deaths and 627 arrests underscoring the cost of dissent. The 2025 protests, building on this momentum, saw Kenyans demand an end to abductions, extrajudicial killings, and corruption, with celebrities like Njugush and Samidoh voicing solidarity online.
The Map of Memory
Saba Saba is more than a date; it’s a map of Kenya’s collective memory. From Nairobi’s Kamukunji to Mombasa’s Saba Saba intersection, from Nakuru’s highways to Kisii’s playful streets, each location marks a chapter in the nation’s fight for justice. The 2025 protests, with at least 11 deaths and 567 arrests, mirror the sacrifices of 1990, yet they also signal a new era. Gen Z, armed with smartphones and hashtags, carries the torch lit by the “Young Turks” of the 1990s. As Siaya Governor James Orengo, a 1990 veteran, declared in 2024, “The young people of this country have decided to march for their lives.”
This map of Saba Saba—etched in blood, tear gas, and defiance—reminds Kenyans that the struggle for a just society is ongoing. Each protest site is a waypoint, each chant a compass, guiding the nation toward a future where the promises of democracy are fulfilled.
Saba Saba 2025: A Tapestry of Resistance Across Kiambu, Nyeri, Kajiado, Narok, and Uasin Gishu
On July 7, 2025, Kenya’s Saba Saba protests, marking the 35th anniversary of the 1990 push for multiparty democracy, erupted across at least 17 counties. In Kiambu, Nyeri, Kajiado, Narok, and Uasin Gishu, the demonstrations were a potent mix of defiance, grief, and chaos, reflecting deep-seated demands for justice, accountability, and an end to state repression. This feature story maps the events in these five counties, where Kenya’s youth and citizens clashed with security forces, shut down economies, and rekindled the spirit of Saba Saba.
Kiambu: Stranded Commuters and Violent Clashes
In Kiambu County, the protests transformed bustling towns like Thika and Kikuyu into scenes of tension and disruption. From early morning, police barricades choked major arteries, including Thika Road at Roysambu, Kasarani, and Guri Nanak, leaving bus stops deserted and thousands of commuters stranded. John Otieno, a cleaner from Thika, recounted to The Standard, “I left home at 5:30 am, hoping to get a matatu, but there was nothing. All vehicles were turned back at Donholm roundabout.” Businesses shuttered amid fears of looting, with Thika Road Mall announcing closures to protect tenants.
Clashes erupted as protesters faced off with police, who were accused of excessive force. In Thika town, one protester was seriously injured during confrontations, though Thika West Sub-County Police Commander Lawrence Muchangi denied reports of fatalities. A video geolocated by CNN in Kiambu showed a civilian stepping out of a car, only to be whipped repeatedly by armed officers, fueling outrage over police brutality. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported the presence of “hooded officers in plainclothes” and “criminal gangs” wielding crude weapons like whips and machetes, some allegedly operating alongside police, raising concerns of state-sanctioned violence. One protester was rushed to Kiambu Level 5 Hospital with severe injuries, underscoring the human toll.
Nyeri: Bonfires, Looting, and Journalist Attacks
Nyeri County saw some of the fiercest confrontations, particularly in Karatina and Nyeri towns. Protests began at 7:30 am as youths lit bonfires and blew whistles, chanting “one term” slogans against President William Ruto’s administration. In Karatina, demonstrators barricaded the Nyeri-Nairobi Highway, setting a kiosk ablaze and attempting to break into a supermarket. Anti-riot police responded with tear gas and live bullets, leading to fierce street battles. At least four people sustained gunshot wounds, with KNCHR noting the injuries as part of the broader violence.
In Nyeri town, tension simmered until 11 am when youths tried to access the central business district (CBD), prompting police to lob tear gas. A boutique in the CBD was looted, and three journalists—James Maina, Kamau Mwangi of Royal Media Services, and Wahu Ngugi of Mediamax Network—were attacked by goons while covering protests at the main matatu stage. The trio escaped with minor injuries after seeking refuge in a police vehicle. In Karatina, looters targeted Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina’s Chieni Supermarket after police were overwhelmed, highlighting the chaos that gripped Nyeri.
Kajiado: A Deadly Flashpoint
Kajiado County, particularly Ngong and Kitengela, emerged as a deadly epicenter of the 2025 Saba Saba protests. In Ngong, three fatalities were reported, the highest death toll in any single location, with KNCHR documenting police using military-grade weapons in violation of court orders. In Kitengela, one protester, 21-year-old boda boda rider Brian Kimutai, was shot dead by police, with videos showing officers in unmarked Subaru vehicles opening fire on unarmed demonstrators. Protesters in Kiserian lit bonfires and clashed with anti-riot police amid clouds of tear gas, while water cannons were deployed aggressively in Kitengela and Kikuyu.
The KNCHR condemned the presence of hooded officers and criminal gangs wielding spears, bows, and arrows, some seen operating alongside police in Kajiado. Social media posts on X highlighted the intensity, with @snrgoodman reporting police excesses in Ngong and Rongai, amplifying the cry of “#RutoMustGo.” The protests paralyzed movement, with Old Namanga Road in Kitengela becoming a battleground as police pushed crowds into narrow corridors.
Narok: From Peaceful to Violent
In Narok County, demonstrations began peacefully but turned violent when police attempted to disperse crowds with tear gas. Protesters, demanding justice and reform, overwhelmed security forces at times, leading to road blockages and business closures. The economic impact was significant, as Narok is among Kenya’s key economic contributors, with KNBS data estimating a daily GDP contribution of KSh 17.2 billion across affected counties. The protests disrupted transport and commerce, with businesses along major routes shutting down to avoid looting. The KNCHR reported injuries but no fatalities in Narok, though the heavy police presence and use of tear gas mirrored the state’s aggressive response elsewhere.
Uasin Gishu: Eldoret’s Silent Streets
In Uasin Gishu, Eldoret City became a ghost town as businesses closed from 7 am, fearing destruction. The Standard reported that dozens of public service vehicles (PSVs) either terminated trips early or stayed off the roads, citing police orders and safety concerns. Heavy police presence in Huruma disrupted normal activity, with Joan Akinyi, a mother of three, unable to access a hospital for her child due to roadblocks. “They told me unless I’m in an ambulance, I can’t pass,” she told The Standard.
Protesters blocked the Eldoret-Bungoma Highway, lighting bonfires and chanting slogans like “WanTam.” The KNCHR noted the presence of criminal gangs wielding crude weapons, some allegedly collaborating with police, a pattern seen in Nairobi and Kajiado. No fatalities were reported, but the economic and social disruptions were profound, with schools closed and commuters stranded.
A Unified Cry Amid Chaos
Across Kiambu, Nyeri, Kajiado, Narok, and Uasin Gishu, the 2025 Saba Saba protests were a testament to Kenya’s enduring fight for justice. The KNCHR documented 10 fatalities, 29 injuries, two abductions, and 37 arrests nationwide, with these five counties bearing significant scars. Police tactics—barricades, tear gas, live bullets, and alleged collaboration with armed gangs—drew condemnation from human rights groups and the Law Society of Kenya, who called the response a “betrayal of democratic principles.” Social media amplified the unrest, with hashtags like #SabaSaba2025 and #RutoMustGo trending as Kenyans demanded accountability.
From Kiambu’s stranded commuters to Nyeri’s looted shops, Kajiado’s deadly clashes, Narok’s disrupted peace, and Uasin Gishu’s silent streets, the protests painted a vivid map of resistance. Saba Saba 2025 was not just a commemoration of 1990’s democratic struggle but a bold statement from a new generation, echoing the same demands for a just and accountable Kenya.