- Saba Saba is marked as a day of sacrifice, not violence
- 7/7/1990 remembered for the bold stand at Kamukunji Grounds
- Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia were hailed as freedom icons
- Call to honour, not distort, the spirit of Saba Saba
- Warning against turning peaceful remembrance into clashes
A respected political elder has spoken firmly ahead of Monday’s Saba Saba commemorations, urging Kenyans to treat the day with the respect it deserves. He reminded the public that Saba Saba is not meant for riots, tyre burnings, or street battles with police.
“This day is soaked in the blood of patriots. It’s not a license for chaos,” he said.
Recalling the historic events of July 7, 1990, the veteran pointed to Kamukunji Grounds as the cradle of Kenya’s multiparty revolution. He emphasized that the fight was for democracy, not destruction.
“I didn’t sit with Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia to start a war — we sparked a revolution for dignity and pluralism,” he stated.
He warned against using the occasion to incite violence or politicize the memory of those who fought for Kenya’s democratic freedoms. The struggle, he said, was already won at Kamukunji; now it’s time to guard that legacy.
“The true battlefield was then. Today, we honour. Let us not twist Saba Saba into a circus of noise.”
Calling for peace and reflection, the leader stressed that the true spirit of Saba Saba lives in history and sacrifice, not in running battles or social media outrage.
“The flame was lit at Kamukunji, not on the tarmac. Let’s keep it burning, not turn it into smoke.”
