Saba Saba: Prison Officer Loses Gun as Raila’s Supporters Fight to Access Historic Kamukunji Grounds
- Tension gripped Shauri Moyo after a prison officer lost his rifle during fierce clashes near the Kamukunji Grounds
- The weapon went missing in the chaos as crowds pushed past barricades, demanding access to the historic venue
- A 17-year-old boy was among those wounded in the crackdown; he was rescued by residents and treated despite hospitals initially refusing him care
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Tension and confusion engulfed Nairobi’s Shauri Moyo area on Saba Saba Day after a Kenya Prisons Service officer lost his rifle.
Source: Twitter
This happened amid fierce clashes between police and demonstrators struggling to access the symbolic Kamukunji Grounds.
How did prison officer lose his gun in Kamukunji?
On Monday, July 7, a charged public gathering converged in anticipation of a speech by former prime minister Raila Odinga.
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Supporters, many chanting his name, had flocked to the historic grounds early in the day before the mood quickly shifted.
"Today Raila, our former prime minister, is coming here and it’s been a long time since we last saw him. He’s the one who has always fought for us, the ordinary people," a resident said.
For hours, Kamukunji Grounds, long considered the home of Kenya’s second liberation movement, remained cordoned off by security forces.
Scuffles broke out as crowds demanded entry, leading to running battles that left several injured and heightened tensions across the estate.
In the melee, a Kenya Prisons officer was disarmed, his G3 rifle reportedly snatched during the chaos, sending alarm bells through the security ranks.
The officer's tribulations triggered a fresh wave of confrontations as police intensified efforts to contain the crowd.
Among the victims of the violent crackdown was a 17-year-old boy, who sustained multiple rubber bullet wounds to his back and arm.
With no emergency services on standby, panicked residents carried him to a nearby health facility.
He was initially denied treatment, but after relentless pleas from bystanders, medical staff finally agreed to administer first aid.
Why did Raila skip the Kamukunji meeting?
Adding to the crowd's frustration was Raila’s absence. Many had waited for hours, only to be informed that the opposition leader would be addressing the public from the Serena Hotel.
In his brief speech, Raila blamed heavy police deployment and strategic roadblocks for his failure to reach Kamukunji.
"I was going to go to Kamukunji to join other Kenyans in commemorating this very important day. Unfortunately, as you all know, the circumstances today, the roadblocks all over town, which has made it difficult for people to move to Kamukunji," Raila explained from Serena.
He went on to reflect on the significance of Saba Saba, recalling it as a defining moment in Kenya’s history.
Source: Facebook
This year’s Saba Saba commemorations carried added weight, coming against the backdrop of Gen Z-led protests that have swept across the country in recent weeks.
The events at Kamukunji reflected both a remembrance of past struggles and a fresh chapter of youth-led resistance.
Raila calls for dialogue
In his address, the ODM leader urged a national dialogue and referendum to tackle Kenya’s pressing challenges.
Reflecting on the day’s history, he proposed forming an “inclusive, intergenerational national conclave” made up of respected figures to develop binding reforms.
He said the forum would focus on four major issues: comprehensive police reform to restore accountability and public trust; rooting out corruption and impunity across all government branches; youth unemployment and economic inclusion in both formal and informal sectors; and strengthening institutions, including the Judiciary, Legislature, and Executive, to be more responsive and well-funded.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
