Kenya Police Open Fire on Protesters as Saba Saba Anniversary Marked by Unrest

Kenyan police fired live rounds at advancing protesters in Nairobi on Monday, as the country marked the 35th anniversary of the historic Saba Saba pro-democracy rallies with widespread demonstrations and heightened security tensions.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi, blowing whistles and chanting as they marched through neighbourhoods like Kangemi. Police responded with tear gas, water cannon, and, at one point, live ammunition. A Reuters reporter witnessed officers opening fire on the crowd; one man was later seen lying motionless on the road with a bloody wound.

The violence is the latest in a series of confrontations between security forces and protesters, which have escalated since the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody last month.

Ojwang’s death has galvanized public anger, fueling ongoing protests against police brutality, government corruption, and the unexplained disappearances of government critics.

Nationwide Protests and Heavy Security

Demonstrations were reported across the country, including in Nyeri, Embu, and Nakuru, where mounted police dispersed stone-throwing crowds.

In anticipation of unrest, authorities blocked major roads into Nairobi and restricted vehicle traffic, leaving much of the city deserted except for determined protesters who arrived on foot. Most schools and at least one shopping mall closed for the day.

“We are not ready to go back (home) because who will fight for our rights then? We will be here till evening,” said Francis Waswa, a construction worker participating in the protests.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, who previously labelled the protests “terrorism disguised as dissent,” reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining order. On Sunday, he stated that security agencies were “on high alert to deal decisively with criminals and other elements of ill intent who may seek to infiltrate peaceful processions to cause havoc, mayhem, or destruction of property.”

Tensions escalated further after unidentified individuals stormed the offices of the Kenya Human Rights Commission on Sunday, injuring at least one board member and disrupting a press conference planned ahead of the protests.

The Legacy of Saba Saba

The annual July 7 protests, known as “Saba Saba” (“seven seven” in Kiswahili), commemorate the 1990 rallies that pressured then-president Daniel Arap Moi to allow multi-party democracy in Kenya. The original protests paved the way for the country’s first multi-party elections in more than two decades.

This year’s anniversary comes amid renewed scrutiny of police conduct.

The June 25 protests, sparked by Ojwang’s death and marking the one-year anniversary of the storming of parliament, resulted in 19 deaths nationwide, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

Prosecutors have since charged six individuals, including three police officers, with murder in connection with Ojwang’s death; all have pleaded not guilty.

As the day unfolded, the streets of Nairobi and other Kenyan cities remained tense, with protesters vowing to continue their demonstrations until their grievances are addressed.

The government’s heavy-handed response and the ongoing legal proceedings over police violence have cast a long shadow over the country’s democratic gains, raising questions about the future of civil liberties and accountability in Kenya. (Reuters)