This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
July 7, 1990, marked the 29th anniversary of the Saba Saba demonstrations, a pivotal moment in Kenya's struggle for multiparty democracy. The event, which has been largely forgotten in mainstream history, was a testament to the enduring spirit of patriotism and nationalism that has defined Kenya's journey to independence.
For those who rely on the facile truth of chronicled facts and dates, Saba Saba was a staged demonstration on July 7, 1990, where protesters demanded the restoration of multiparty democracy in the country. However, the story of Saba Saba goes beyond the surface level, revealing a complex web of human emotions, sacrifices, and struggles that have shaped Kenya's history.
As historian Jaramogi Oginga Odinga noted in his autobiography Not Yet Uhuru, the struggle for independence began long before the country gained 'Flag independence.' The Mau Mau freedom fighters and other formations went into the forest, fighting for a better Kenya. However, this history is hardly accurately depicted in the school syllabus, where the struggle is given little emphasis and the freedom fighters are accorded little or no credit.
The danger of this lack of reverence to historical figures and events is that it leads to a waning of the spirit of patriotism and nationalism. As the saying goes, 'whoever has no respect and memory for his past has no place in the future.' The past is a point of reference, showing how far we have come, the battles we have fought, won and lost, and the reason to jealously guard our nationhood and sense of belonging.
Writers of repute have strived to record the events in history, accurately matching facts and emotions. Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Micere Mugo's play The Trial of Dedan Kimathi, for example, captures the scenes in the court during the final stages of the struggle for independence, answering the question of whether or not the freedom was worth fighting for. Similarly, Sam Kahiga's novel Dedan Kimathi: The Real Story impartially presents well-researched historical events that were happening during the dawn years of the struggle led by Dedan Kimathi.
