Calls for fresh protests flood online after Saba Saba demos

Protesters light a bonfire outside the Kitengela sub county hospital, on July 2025. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

Social media platforms were on Monday flooded with calls for more protests today as Kenyans marked Saba Saba with demonstrations demanding accountability from leaders.

Hashtags including #TuesdayIsTuesday, #OccupyUntilVictory and #SabaSaba2025 trended on X throughout the day, with many users declaring Tuesday an unofficial public holiday and urging protesters to return to the streets.

Some users claimed that yesterday’s protests were infiltrated by police, saying the demonstrations lost meaning and needed to be restarted. Others argued that heavy police presence turned the day into a show of force, calling for fresh protests to maintain momentum.

“Today we are kicking off a revolution that shall run until victory,” posted @MajuuAlone under #OccupyUntilVictory.

“To us Tuesday is Tuesday we are not stopping,” noted @Kinuthia_GK in a post widely shared among protesters.

“Real patriots are waiting for tomorrow Tuesday is Tuesday,” wrote @Brandon_Indire, urging Kenyans to keep protesting.

“Gen Z has made it clear that freedom is claimed, not handed down,” observed Anthony Mwangi, a Nairobi resident following online discussions.

User @kingalfir shared a website mapping barricades in Nairobi, calling it a tool for protesters to organise and avoid police traps.

@CaptainRaymondN reposted updates of closed roads, while @MKapombe highlighted the irony of roads being blocked despite government orders for workers to report to duty.

@Janetke2140 posted, “Youths giving Kenyans a public holiday and making sure all police officers are busy blocking roads.”User @Nj58153Njabe posted, “Public holiday granted,” while @JoyImunya wrote, “Naskia eti kesho ndio maandamano.”

“Today is for the police tomorrow is for civilians,” posted @sholard_mancity, summing up the mood among protesters promising to continue demonstrations.

Anti-riot police blocked roads into Nairobi’s city centre on Monday, forcing many commuters to walk as protesters lit bonfires and set up barricades on major roads in Nairobi, Thika and other towns. 

During the protests, four people were shot dead in Kangemi and Ngong, with two deaths reported in each area as police used tear gas and live bullets to disperse crowds.

 National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga warned protesters against accessing protected areas. “Entering or attempting to access protected government installations or restricted areas violates the Protected Areas Act and will attract immediate legal action,” noted Nyaga.