Saba Saba: Protests loom on July 7 as lobby issues Ruto fresh demands

President William Ruto's administration could face fresh protests on July 7 after a lobby on Tuesday issued fresh demands over protests, policing and governance.

The National Alternative Alliance, a consortium of political parties and civil societies, said they are planning to rally Kenyans to commemorate Saba Saba Day on July 7, 2025.

Led by their national convener, Arnold Maliba and politician Kennedy Ondiek, the lobby said they aim to pressure Ruto to listen to grievances posed to him by Kenyans.

"We are going to organise protests on Monday to commemorate Saba Saba Day because Kenyans are angry over how Ruto is governing this country. There is nothing that is working except corruption, nepotism and other ills," said Maliba.

In a list of demands that they spelt out during a press briefing in Nairobi, the group demanded that Ruto immediately sack the country's security chiefs following increased cases of abductions and police brutality.

They singled out Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the head of National Intelligence Services Noordin Haji as officers who needed to be fired.

"Ruto must start action with the low-lying fruits, such as sacking the leadership of security agencies in the country. He must heed what the people want and not what he wants," said Maliba.

The lobby also poked holes in the country's foreign policy, which they described as transactional, warning that Kenya risks losing its face if it continues meddling in the affairs of other countries.

Ondiek warned that the president risks further protests against his administration if he does not make changes in governance style.

"The protests against the president and demands that he resign may not come to an end soon. He should better know that the only remedy out of this chaos is listening and heeding the demands of Kenyans," said Ondiek.

The ultimatums could add a headache to security agencies who are scratching their heads on how to contain the wanton destruction and deaths associated with the demonstrations.

On Monday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced the arrest of 485 individuals linked to the violent chaos that rocked the country during the June 25 memorial protests.

DCI Director Mohamed Amin revealed that 448 suspects have already been charged in court, while 37 remain under investigation, some facing ongoing custodial hearings.

"The charges range from murder, terrorism, rape, gang rape, arson, robbery with violence, and incitement to violence, to possession of illegal firearms," said Amin.

Amin said preliminary investigations and statements from suspects suggest that the violence was not spontaneous, but the result of a deliberate and well-funded plot aimed at causing civil unrest and anarchy under the cover of protest.

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"Individuals were strategically mobilised and transported, particularly into Nairobi, from different parts of the country - not to express legitimate grievances, but to execute a coordinated agenda of disruption," he stated.

The protests, initially billed as youth-led demonstrations demanding government accountability, quickly spiralled into violence, with incidents reported in Nairobi, Kitengela, Dagoreti, Naivasha, Kikuyu, and Nyeri, among others.

According to Amin, businesses bore the brunt of the violence. Numerous wholesale and retail outlets were looted and vandalised, and ATMs were destroyed, with millions of shillings reported stolen.

The DCI chief also confirmed receiving credible reports of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, allegedly perpetrated by criminals who had infiltrated the demonstrations.