ODM to Skip Saba Saba Protests as Lobby Group Confirms Nairobi Demonstration

A Nairobi-based lobby group has formally notified the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies of its plans to stage Saba Saba Day demonstrations in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 7, with organizers expecting between 1,000 and 3,000 participants to take part in the peaceful procession.

In a two-page notice addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the Nairobi Regional Police Commander, and the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Central Police Station, the Grassroots Economic Justice Movement outlined the planned route for the demonstration. According to the organizers, participants will assemble at Jeevanjee Gardens before marching through the city to Parliament Buildings, where they intend to present a petition to lawmakers.

The petition calls for urgent parliamentary intervention on several human rights concerns, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the alleged excessive use of force by security agencies. Organizers say the demonstration is intended to amplify public concerns over accountability, justice, and the protection of constitutional rights.

To ensure the procession remains orderly, the lobby group said volunteer marshals will be deployed throughout the march to assist with crowd management and maintain discipline among participants. Organizers emphasized that the demonstration will be peaceful and conducted within the framework of the Constitution, urging security agencies to facilitate rather than disrupt the exercise.

The planned protests come as the country prepares to mark Saba Saba Day, a significant date in Kenya’s democratic history. Commemorated every July 7, Saba Saba marks the historic 1990 pro-democracy movement that demanded the restoration of multi-party democracy. Over the years, the anniversary has evolved into a platform for citizens and civil society groups to advocate for governance reforms, human rights, accountability, and social justice.

Meanwhile, Makadara MP George Aladwa has announced that members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will not participate in this year’s Saba Saba demonstrations. His remarks signal a different approach by the party despite the growing calls from civil society organizations and activists for public participation in the protests.

With security agencies now formally notified, attention shifts to how authorities will manage the demonstrations. The planned march comes amid heightened public scrutiny over policing of recent protests and renewed calls for both demonstrators and law enforcement officers to uphold the rule of law, protect public safety, and ensure that constitutional rights are respected throughout the event.