New dawn, new phase of Saba Saba

Every year in the Kenyan calendar, Saba Saba is commemorated, a historic day marking the country’s bold struggle for multiparty democracy. But as time passes, the face of this commemoration continues to evolve.

Once defined by mass gatherings in places like Kamukunji Grounds, the Saba Saba of today has taken on a new life in the digital world.

A new generation, particularly the Gen Zs, is stepping into the space once occupied by veteran activists, weaponless but just using smartphones, social platforms and hashtags which they use as their modern-day weapons of political expression.

The ’Tunataka Katiba ibadilishwe’ chants have now been replaced by ‘Ruto Must Go’.

Yet the demands of this new generation are quite clear, what they seek is simply time and a listening ear. For many, that's exactly what's missing.

To voice their frustrations, they often take to the streets, with Tuesday and Thursday being their go-to days for protests, though why those particular days, one might still need someone to explain.

Social media has become a powerful catalyst, allowing information to spread rapidly, far from the era when Kenyans relied on a single television station or handwritten letters.

From the streets of Nairobi to timelines across the country, voices are rising again. Not just to remember what was fought for, but to reclaim what’s been lost.