Flouting heavy police roadblocks in Nairobi and other major towns, scores of defiant youths converged on the historic Kamukunji Grounds on Monday, July 7, 2025, demanding that the ODM leader address them amid nationwide Saba Saba protests.

Despite anti‑riot officers “deployed around Kamukunji grounds” and road barriers across the city, the protesters forced their way in.  

“The rain will not stop us from holding our maandamano. We must demonstrate against this regime.”

That sentiment reflected a unity among the demonstrators, young Kenyans steeled against intimidation and galvanised in pursuit of economic justice.

At the grounds, they chanted slogans and danced to ward off the cold and damp, forming a vibrant, resolute crowd. Another youth added:

“We must demonstrate against this regime”, a refrain chanted as the marchers pushed through roadblocks one by one.

Kamukunji morphed into the symbolic centre of this youth-led uprising, with participants reiterating that their message was clear: they wanted the ODM leader on stage.

“He must address us,” was a recurrent call among the assembly, an unrecorded refrain echoed by many, though unnamed, as they advanced despite police presence.

These youths view Saba Saba not merely as a commemoration but as a continuation of civic militancy, demanding accountability on cost-of-living hardships, rising taxes, and governance failures.

They said the bold action at Kamukunji underscores a new phase in youth activism: assertive, unified, and unwavering in demanding direct engagement from political leadership.

Raila on Saba Saba

Raila Odinga on Sunday, July 6, 2025, announced a major shift in stance, declaring his intention to personally attend a Saba Saba rally at Kamukunji Grounds on Monday, July 7, 2025.

In a media appearance, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement party announced that the symbolic return to Kamukunji was intended to honour those who died during the first Saba Saba protests 35 years ago.

“My idea is to call the people and go to Kamukunji, the first place where Saba Saba took place. I will be attending the Saba Saba at Kamukunji to remember those who were killed,” Raila stated.

The announcement represents a significant reversal of Raila’s recent stance, in which he had been marginalised in the ongoing demonstrations led by Generation Z. In a previous statement, the ODM leader stated that while he would not be participating in the youth’s street protests, he would morally support their demands for greater authority and accountability.