Nairobi is a Warzone | Saba Saba 🇰🇪

It seems like the whole world is experiencing political turbulence in 2023, Kenya is no different. The leader of the opposition has accused the President of being a tyrant and a dictator and has organised rallies to protest his leadership.

Many people in Kenya go are living day to day not knowing where their next meal is coming from. "our children need food" and "we are suffering" are just two sentences which I heard today.

The protest quickly turned dangerous once the speakers has finished. Frustration, set in and when confronted by the government forces including the military and the police, the crowd threw rocks as the received a barrage of tear gas canisters.

I was right in the thick of it. Its an experience I'll never forget on what looks to be another famous Saba Saba in Kenya.

The term "Saba Saba" means "Seven Seven" in Swahili, as it represents the seventh day of the seventh month.

Saba Saba Day holds historical importance as it marks a turning point in Kenya's political landscape. On July 7, 1990, a large-scale political rally was held at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi. The rally was organised by opposition leaders and activists who sought to push for multi-party democracy in Kenya, challenging the single-party rule that had been in place for decades.

The event was met with resistance and violence from the government's security forces, resulting in clashes between protesters and the authorities. This incident, along with subsequent protests and political pressure, eventually led to the introduction of multi-party democracy in Kenya in 1991.

Since then, Saba Saba Day has become an important annual event for political activists, civil society organisations, and citizens to reflect on the struggle for democracy and human rights in Kenya. It serves as a reminder of the power of collective action and the ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic principles in the country.