Kenya on Monday marked the 35th anniversary of the 7 July 1990 Saba Saba protests, a watershed moment that forced the repeal of Section 2A of the constitution and opened the door to multi-party politics. Opposition leader Raila Odinga, a key figure in the original movement, had urged citizens to gather at Nairobi’s Kamukunji Grounds, but police roadblocks and a heavy security presence around the city prevented the commemoration rally from taking place. Speaking instead at a press conference, Odinga said many of the grievances that drove demonstrators into the streets three and a half decades ago—economic hardship, police brutality and lack of government accountability—remain unresolved. He proposed the immediate creation of an inter-generational, nation-wide “conclave” empowered to draft what he called irreducible reforms, including comprehensive police oversight, tougher anti-corruption measures and programmes to expand economic opportunities for young people. The recommendations, he added, should ultimately be put to a referendum. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and other senior officials echoed the call for dialogue but cautioned against street protests, warning that violence would jeopardise national stability. Kindiki urged citizens to resolve differences through peaceful discussion, while civil society figures pressed the government to ‘listen to the cries of the people’ as public frustration over the rising cost of living and alleged state heavy-handedness grows. Odinga, who has been detained multiple times for his pro-democracy activism, said the country is “a better nation because Saba Saba happened” but lamented what he sees as fading recognition of the day’s legacy. He insisted that honouring the sacrifice of 1990 requires recommitting to reforms that ensure accountable governance, peaceful policing and equitable economic growth.