By Steve El Sabai
As Kenya approaches the 25th anniversary of Saba Saba Day, the National Alternative Alliance (NAA) has issued a passionate and urgent call to President William Ruto, warning that the nation is hurtling toward a dangerous tipping point. With tensions rising and nationwide protests led by a frustrated generation of young Kenyans, the alliance is demanding immediate reforms to prevent the country from sliding into further chaos.
The NAA statement opens with a somber tone, declaring that “Kenya is burning,” and accuses the current administration of failing to uphold the hopes and promises enshrined in the Constitution. It highlights rampant youth unemployment, human rights violations, and the use of state machinery to silence dissent as key reasons behind the growing unrest.
As the country prepares to mark Saba Saba on July 7, a day historically symbolic of the fight for multiparty democracy, the alliance calls on the President to rise above political interests and lead the country toward peace, justice, and renewal.
The alliance proposes a series of urgent measures: an immediate end to abductions and extrajudicial killings, release of arrested protesters, compensation for victims of police brutality, and a directive for Parliament to create a committee to investigate the ongoing protests and youth-led agitation.
Moreover, the NAA demands a civic led, multi sectoral, and time bound national dialogue to address pressing issues including economic hardship, corruption, youth inclusion, and intergenerational disconnect. It also calls for a radical midterm review of government policies, accompanied by real public participation.
A striking part of the statement is its detailed list of corruption scandals dogging the administration from the KEMSA mosquito nets scandal to sugar, oil, fertilizer, and housing levy controversies. The alliance urges President Ruto to act decisively by dismissing key security and intelligence chiefs and launching fresh prosecutions against corrupt public officials.
To tackle youth unemployment, the alliance suggests recruiting 30,000 officers into the police and KDF, reviving youth funds, scaling up public works, restoring student leadership elections, and helping university dropouts return to school.
“This moment demands courage, honesty, and decisive leadership,” the statement concludes. “The future of our nation, and the hopes of millions of Kenyans, hang in the balance.”
