Organisers of Tuesday's Saba Saba protests commemoration have vowed to proceed with their procession as planned, insisting they have already met all legal requirements for the march — even as police declared all gatherings unlawful and warned they had received no notification.
National Convener Francis Owino dismissed police claims that organisers had failed to inform them of the procession.
"We submitted our notice of peaceful assembly to the Nairobi Regional Commander and the office of the Inspector-General of Police on Friday. The notices were received. We will be on the streets on Tuesday, and our gathering point will be Jeevanjee Gardens," Owino told the Nation.
A copy of the notification letter submitted to police last week outlines the planned activities, beginning at 9am.
"The procession shall move peacefully from Jeevanjee Gardens through the Central Business District via designated public roads to Parliament Buildings, where a petition shall be formally presented to the Speakers and Members of the National Assembly and the Senate. Participants shall remain peaceful, orderly and unarmed throughout the procession and presentation of the petition," the notice states.
The petition seeks parliamentary intervention on longstanding concerns, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and excessive use of force by security agencies, stronger police accountability and oversight mechanisms, and protection of constitutional rights and the rule of law.
Organisers estimate that at least 1,000 participants — drawn from civil society organisations, students, professionals, human rights defenders and members of the public — will take part.
"We respectfully request the National Police Service to facilitate the peaceful exercise of constitutional rights by providing appropriate security and traffic management throughout the event," the notice reads.
Vocal Africa Chief Executive Hussein Khalid said the demonstrations would also press for justice for victims of enforced disappearances.
"We will take part in the procession to demand the release of people who are still in the hands of abductors," Khalid said.
Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohamud addressing the press at the Nairobi Area Police Headquarters on July 6,2026.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
Behind the scenes, preparations continued throughout Monday, with grassroots leaders and human rights defenders holding strategy meetings in Nairobi ahead of the demonstrations.
"We are in a meeting to plan for Saba Saba tomorrow (Tuesday). The plans will proceed as indicated in the notification we sent to the police last week," one organiser said after the meeting.
Mathare Social Justice Centre co-founder Wanjira Wanjiru had also earlier confirmed that activists would join the demonstrations to pressure President William Ruto's administration to respect the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.
Police, however, maintained they had received no such notice. Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said officers had only learnt of the planned protests through social media, and that neither his office nor commanders in neighbouring counties had been formally notified.
"I am here to address the impending demonstrations, the Saba Saba protests, which we are hearing about on social media. We have never been notified. This is the correct position, and as the Regional Police Commander of Nairobi, I am telling you the correct position — we have not been notified," Mohamud said.
Appearing alongside county commanders from Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado, Mohamud said the Public Order Act requires organisers to notify police in advance to allow for security planning and traffic management.
"It is a requirement in the Public Order Act that we should be notified, and we have not received notification from any quarter. Even the neighbouring counties have not received the same, and those claims of a protest tomorrow remain allegations. So the Saba Saba they want to hold tomorrow is merely an allegation to us," he said.
While acknowledging that the Constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate, Mohamud argued that the right comes with responsibilities organisers must fulfil.
"The Constitution of Kenya guarantees every citizen the right to assemble, protest, picket and present petitions. This right is not under threat, but it comes with responsibilities. Peaceful, unarmed demonstrations start with a notification. You notify us, we agree on the date, the time and the routes," he said.
He warned that any gathering held without prior coordination with police would be treated as unlawful.
"If there has been no meeting between us and any group to arrange tomorrow's demonstrations, then if you gather anywhere tomorrow, we will treat that as an unlawful assembly and we will deal with it," he said.
Mohamud added that violence, destruction of property and attacks on police stations would be met with firm action, insisting the National Police Service is mandated to protect both lives and property.
"Our duty is not to suppress the voice of the people. It is to ensure those voices are expressed within the law, without endangering life, property and the nation's stability," he said.
He also disclosed that security agencies had received intelligence indicating criminal groups intended to infiltrate the demonstrations, but sought to reassure the public that police had no interest in violent confrontation.
"We are not hungry for blood, or for anybody to die. What we want is law and order and to protect lives and property. There will be restricted areas, such as Parliament. We do not want intruders going there to cause chaos at the government square," he said.
The standoff has also exposed political divisions. A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders, meeting in Nairobi on Sunday, urged party supporters to stay away from the protests, arguing that with ODM now part of the broad-based government, disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than street action.
Led by Makadara MP and ODM Nairobi branch chairman George Aladwa, the leaders said they would not allow party members to participate in demonstrations that could descend into violence.
ODM Nairobi Branch Chairperson and Makadara MP George Aladwa addressing journalists at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on July 5, 2026.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
"We are saying that our members will not be used to cause chaos in the city and the county again. We are in the broad-based government, and we want to state once more that we will not take to the streets for Saba Saba celebrations," Aladwa said.
He called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo to ensure the country remains peaceful during the demonstrations, and urged the media to continue playing its oversight role while promoting peace.
"It is also important for the media to report on peace and positive developments while also criticising leaders where necessary. If I am not doing well as a politician, the media has the right to report and correct me. We want peace as we head towards the 2027 General Election," he said.
Even as political leaders took opposing positions, Nairobi's public transport operators announced they would continue operating despite the heightened security.
Matatu Owners Association president Albert Karakacha said matatus would be on the roads as usual, adding that operators had advised drivers to cooperate fully with police manning roadblocks across the city.
"Screening PSVs is okay. Let them do it, and we accept it. Let the vehicles be checked, but they should also screen boda bodas — they are the ones bringing chaos. We are telling our people that if they encounter police barriers, they should stop and allow the vehicles to be screened. We carry all kinds of passengers, so if it is a security check, let the police do their work. We do not condone corruption by officers who may take advantage of the situation," he said.
"We will be working as usual. Anyone going to work, we will carry them. As an industry, we are law-abiding. We will carry passengers today, and what we need is security. If our drivers see police officers, they should allow them to screen the vehicles so that everything remains orderly. We just need peace," Karakacha added.
