Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

Saba Saba

Today is Saba Saba, a day commemorating the nationwide protests that took place on July 7, 1990, when Kenyans took to the streets to demand free elections.

The politicians who had called for the protests, Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia, were arrested days before the protest day.

Other organizers of the day, such as Njeru Gathangu, George Anyona, and Raila Odinga, were beaten up and detained by then-President Daniel Moi.

In present-day Kenya, Saba Saba has taken on a new meaning, with human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organizations such as Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi, Kenya Human Rights Commission, National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders, the Social Justice Centres’ Working Group, and Mathare Social Justice Center among others asking for respect of the constitution, an end to police brutality and killings, and advocating for a favourable legal and policy environment in Kenya.

Following the current situation in the country, youth online have been pushing for the #SabaSabaMarchForOurLives campaign to happen this Sunday, and the pressure on the current regime continues.

World Swahili Language Day

World Swahili Language Day will be observed today across the world. This occasion began when UNESCO declared July 7 as Swahili Language Day in 2022.

On July 7, 1954, Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) leader Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, adopted the Swahili language as a unifying language for African independence struggles.

Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya, followed suit and also used the Swahili language to mobilize and unify the people of Kenya in the struggle against colonialism through the use of the popular “Harambee” slogan.

World Swahili Language Day marks the first United Nations designation of an African-originated language for an official language day at the UN.

The other language days are for the six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

Swahili is currently a prominent language spoken in a variety of locations along the African Great Lakes Region and is spoken by upwards of 200 million people as a second language.

Politicians in churches

Apart from President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, a few others stayed away from churches following the “Occupy Churches” online campaign and the push to have politicians denied chances to speak in church.

It will be interesting to see what happens this weekend, especially after the president also banned public servants and state officers from participating in Harambees and public contributions.

For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.

Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital

WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p