Opposition skips streets, opts for virtual solidarity

No entry! That was what Kenyans woke up to on Monday morning as the Government barricaded almost all the entry points to the Nairobi Central Business District (NCBD), ahead of the planned Saba Saba protests.

On a day that was previously dominated by the opposition leaders as they pushed the Government to live by the spirit of Saba Saba, this year they seemingly took a different approach.

It was a no-show for opposition leaders; they did not turn up on the streets yesterday as the country marked the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba and instead chose to send their messages virtually.

In the morning hours, Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, was in a court session held at Kahawa via Zoom for the detained Democracy for Citizens (DCP) youths.

He later posted a video on his social media platforms speaking to Saba Saba, where he said that 35 years ago, brave men and women took to our streets seeking an end to single-party dictatorship and the return of multiparty democracy.

“We see action on the streets. Kenyans have taken another holiday because, through state-sponsored terrorism by police, they are not able to access their offices, so the CBD is a ghost city. I think this is the price we have to pay as a country for allowing people who are not competent in leadership to take over the reins of power,” he said.

According to Kalonzo, Kenyans have now learnt lessons, and Saba Saba is a reminder of the struggle towards affirmation of multi-party democracy in the country.

“We remember the iconic image of the young Turks, standing on a pickup's bed, speaking to Kenyans and the world via loudspeakers. Their determined voices eventually led to the repeal of Section 2A of the then Constitution of Kenya, returning our Republic to a multiparty state. Their sacrifices resulted in Kenya’s Second Liberation, the hallmark of which is the birth of The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 – a living law that we are very proud of.

 As Kenya marked Saba Saba, he celebrated heroes, including Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, Martin Shikuku, James Orengo and Raila Odinga among others, even as he saluted the generational awakening sweeping through the country.

He said people like Raila and Matiba were detained without trial, a move which was possible back then, but the Constitution 2010 did away with such injustices and guarantees liberties for Kenyans and also the Bill of Rights.

“These things under the Constitution are rights that we must safeguard with our lives with our lives, the rights to expression, freedom of the media- we hope they will not shut down on Saba Saba as they did on June 25,” he said.

“We celebrate the heroes who suffered so that this country can achieve second liberation, and now we are dealing with the third liberation, which is primarily led by our young Kenyans, the Gen Zs. We are behind them solidly, that even on Saba Saba we were in court trying to defend their rights,” he said.

Kalonzo said they will stand firm to defend the basic rights and gains made under the Constitution and urged Kenyans to remain resolute, fearless and determined to achieve the objectives of making sure that this administration is ‘one term’.

“On Monday, the voice of resistance is found in our youth, who, in peaceful protest against impunity, injustice, corruption and misrule, use their phones to air, tweet, and record their grievances and concerns; carry a bottle of water to quench their march's thirst; and carry the flag of Kenya to show the world how very proud they are to be Kenyan. They are the faces and voices of the third Liberation,” he said.

Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader, Eugene Wamalwa, also posted his sentiments on the social media platforms.

He insisted that all sovereign power belongs to the People of Kenya and shall be exercised only by the Article 1(1) of the Constitution.

“The People may exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives - Article 1(2) of the Constitution 2010. No amount of teargas, bullets, roadblocks, barbed wire, goons, abductions, extrajudicial killings, police cells or prison walls can silence or kill the People’s voice or will to exercise this power,” he posted.