This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
On July 7, 2020, the 30th Saba Saba day was marked with protests in Nairobi, but the event turned chaotic as police used teargas to disperse the crowd.
Security had been beefed up in various areas of Nairobi as a group of activists planned to congregate at Parliament Buildings with a theme of respect for the constitution.
However, the police feared the march may turn violent and become a source of spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, and wanted the organisers to take responsibility for any such incidents.
Protesters were arrested in other places like Kibra, Kayole, and Kariobangi, while at Mathare Justice Centre, clouds of teargas engulfed the sky as activists engaged the police in running battles.
Under the hashtags #SabaSabaMatchforOurLives and #SabaSabaAt30, Kenyans shared various video clips of activists marching on the streets in commemoration of the 30 years of Saba Saba.
As one Twitter user, Victor Amadala (@ItsAmadala), put it, 'Teargas has become the weapon against those seeking any form of justice. History repeating itself, 30 years later. SHAME #SabaSabaAt30.'
