Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru has asked Kenyans to stay at home peacefully on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, as the country marks Saba Saba Day.

Njiru described the proposed stay-at-home action as a “people’s public holiday” meant to honour Kenyans who have died during demonstrations and allow citizens to reflect on democracy, justice and accountability.

“I hereby call upon the people of Kenya to observe 7 July 2026, Saba Saba Day, as a People’s Public Holiday by staying at home peacefully,” Njiru said in a statement issued on Monday evening.

His appeal does not amount to an official public holiday declaration, which can only be made through the legally recognised government process.

Ndegwa Njiru’s Saba Saba call

Njiru said the day should honour victims of violence linked to public demonstrations, including 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki, who he said was shot and killed during recent protests.

He urged Kenyans to avoid confrontation and use the day for remembrance and peaceful civic reflection.

“Let this day be dedicated to remembrance, peaceful civic reflection, and the reaffirmation of the constitutional values of democracy, justice, accountability, and the sovereignty of the people,” he said.

The lawyer cited Articles 1, 2, 3, 10 and 37 of the Constitution in support of his appeal.

The provisions address the sovereignty of the people, constitutional supremacy, national values and the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions peacefully and unarmed.

Saba Saba Day in Kenya

Saba Saba, which means “seven seven” in Kiswahili, is marked annually on July 7.

The day traces its political significance to July 7, 1990, when pro-democracy leaders and activists pushed for political reforms and the restoration of multiparty democracy in Kenya.

Njiru said the 2026 commemoration should remain peaceful and focus on justice, constitutional rights and accountability rather than violence or destruction.

Meanwhile, the National Police Service (NPS) already said it did not receive formal notification for the planned Saba Saba Day protests scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, insisting that organisers must comply with the law governing public processions.

“We are not aware of a protest tomorrow. There have been rumours that there could be protests tomorrow.

That is not what we go by; we go by the law, and the law says that for you to hold that protest, you have to do a notification three days before the protest and not beyond 14 days,” Muchiri Nyaga, the spokesperson of NPS, said.