Siaya Governor James Orengo, a veteran of Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, has hailed the Gen Z-led protests as a continuation of the Saba Saba liberation spirit.
In an early morning X post, Orengo praised the youth for stepping up to defend democracy, adding that there has been constant disregard of the multi-party movement.
“The dream of Saba Saba was enshrined in Katiba 2010. Before the ink dried, it was turned on its head and every pillar of it weakened,” he said. “Everything has not been spared including now the separation of church and state,” he said.
His remarks come at a time when the government faces mounting backlash over proposed laws and alleged brutality targeting protesters.
Nairobi Woman Rep Esther Passaris has come under fire over a bill seeking to amend the right to peaceful assembly, which many fear is aimed at muzzling public dissent.
Simultaneously, the Communications Authority is pushing for parliamentary approval to restrict livestreaming of protests, citing concerns over children being exposed to violent content. Civil society and digital rights groups argue this is a thinly veiled attempt to censor protest coverage and shield state excesses from the public eye.
The government’s heavy-handedness has long been a point of contention, and recent killings have added fuel to the fire.
The shooting dead of Boniface Kariuki, a mask vendor during a protest and the murder of a teacher Albert Ojwang who had criticized a senior police official, have enraged the public, particularly the youth. Many now accuse the state of turning a deaf ear to demands for justice while silencing dissent through force.
Orengo warned that the country risks undoing the hard-won gains of the Saba Saba movement if it continues down this path.
“So the struggle must continue; Mwakenya, Saba Saba, Gen Z — on and on”
