Saba Saba (“seven of seven” in Swahili) conmemorates the mass protests against the Moi dictatorship in 1990. This year, the Revolutionary Socialist League (ISL section in Kenya) and the Social Justice Centers that they work with organized a march in Nairobi against hunger, austerity and repression. Below is their press statement.
SABA SABA PRESS STATEMENT
7 JULY 2022
It is without a doubt that life is getting increasingly unbearable for the people of Kenya. The prices of basic commodities keep rising everyday, with the majority of the people being unable to afford food, the most basic human right under our constitution. Foodstuff such as maize flour, cooking oil, rice, wheat and groceries are too expensive for ordinary Kenyans.
More than 35% of Kenyans suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition each year, with 2.6 million facing a food insecurity crisis. In February 2022, the Kenya Food Security Steering Group’s annual Short Rains Assessment reported that there are around 3.1 million food-insecure people in pastoral and marginal agricultural areas, a 48% increase since August 2021. According to the African Population and Health Research Centre, 80% of people living in informal settlements are food insecure, with malnutrition rates of up to 50% among children. More than 13 million Kenyans suffer from chronic food and nutrition insecurity, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Kenya ranks 86 out of 117 countries on the 2019 Global Hunger Index.
Further, we have witnessed a massive loss of jobs among our population and a terrible economic crisis due to state mismanagement and corruption. We are witnessing state demolitions carried out against the people. We are faced with an acute water shortage. Cases of police killings and brutality are on the increase. Majority of Kenyans cannot access proper medical services. Rent is unaffordable. 65% of women and girls in Kenya are unable to afford and access sanitary pads.
The gap between the richest and poorest has reached extreme levels in Kenya. Less than 0.1% of the population (8,300 people) own more wealth than the bottom 99.9% (more than 48 million people). The richest 10% of people in Kenya earned on average 23 times more than the poorest 10%, according to Oxfam International.
People in Kenya are experiencing a gigantic wave of attacks. The crisis of neoliberalism throws many millions of people into poverty, the expansion of state repression threatens the limited democratic rights which have existed in parts of the world and the food crisis threatens the lives of many people.
THEREFORE, WE THE PEOPLE OF KENYA DEMAND:
- Immediate lowering of the prices of food and basic commodities, and full implementation of Mwananchi Budget
- Immediate scrap-off of increased taxes on fuel and other items, and an end to increasing public debt
- Free and fair conduct of general elections, and the prevention of electoral violence
- Immediate end to police killings and brutality and State Repression
- Access to free and quality healthcare for everyone
- Provision of clean water for everyone
- Provision of decent housing for everyone
- Equitable access to jobs for everyone, and an end to mass unemployment
- Right to land for everyone, and an immediate reclamation of grabbed land and public spaces
- Provision of free sanitary pads to all women and girls