Veteran politician and human rights activist Koigi wa Wamwere has said the Saba Saba commemorations remind him of Kenya’s second liberation struggle, a period that followed the country’s independence when citizens realised the promise of freedom was quickly betrayed.

Speaking to a local TV station during the July 7, 2025, Saba Saba Day events, Koigi reflected on the painful transition from colonialism to self-rule, which he said was hijacked by post-independence leaders for their personal gain.

“Kitu ambacho kinanikumbusha mchana wa leo ni harakati za mapambano wa pili ya kutafuta uhuru bahada wa kupata utawala wa kujisimamia ambao ulivurugwa na viongozi ambao walichukua hatamu baada ya uhuru. Na badala ya kuhakikisha ya kwamba kila mtu amepata nafasi ya kufurahia uhuru, viongozi waliamua ya kwamba utawala ulikuwa ni wao, na sisi wengine tulikuwa ni watazamaji tu.”

“Mpaka watu wakaamua kupambana. Wakati huo mimi nilikuwa bungeni, nilikuwa mmoja wa wabunge wanaharakati waliokuwa wanaaitwa seven bearded sisters. Lilikuwa ni jina la kututukana tu ambalo tuliitwa na Bwana Njonjo. Hata baada ya kuitwa hivyo, tulifanya kazi mzuri ya kupigania mabadiliko ya pili kuhakikisha ya kwamba kuna uhuru na maendeleo.”

Loosely translated to: “What today reminds me of is the second liberation struggle that began after we gained internal self-rule, which was then corrupted by the leaders who took charge after independence. Instead of ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to enjoy freedom, the leaders decided that governance was theirs alone, and the rest of us were merely spectators.”

“Eventually, people chose to resist. At that time, I was in Parliament and one of the activist MPs called the seven bearded sisters, a mocking name given to us by Njonjo. Even after being labelled that way, we did important work in fighting for the second wave of reforms, which were aimed at ensuring freedom and development.”

The Gen Z activism

Koigi was part of a group of bold reformists in the 1980s and early 1990s who pushed back against Kenya’s one-party rule and human rights abuses. He became a key figure in the struggle for multiparty democracy, often facing detention, intimidation, and political persecution.

His reflection comes at a time when a new generation of young Kenyans, mainly Gen Z activists, are reviving the spirit of Saba Saba through fresh calls for justice, economic fairness, and accountability.

Koigi praised these youth-led efforts, saying that while the faces may have changed, the mission remains the same: to realise the full promise of the Constitution and the democratic freedoms that many fought and suffered for.