Moses Kuria recalls 1990 protests, warns against hijacking Saba Saba legacy
By Ascah Mwango, July 6, 2025President William Ruto’s Senior Advisor in the Council of Economic Advisors, Moses Kuria, has cautioned Kenyans against politicising or hijacking the upcoming Saba Saba protests, urging leaders and citizens alike to honour the day’s historical significance and uphold peace.
In a statement shared via his X account on Sunday, July 6, 2025, Kuria expressed his deep connection to the Saba Saba legacy and vowed to protect the spirit of the 1990 demonstrations.
“I was in the streets as a Gen Z on the 7th July 1990. I will solemnly observe tomorrow as the day of liberation from the dictatorship of the Moi-KANU Single Party regime,” Kuria said.
Adding;
“Tomorrow is also the Declaration of War on those who know nothing about the struggle but want to hijack it to destroy lives and property. May their blood flow in the liberated soil.”
1990
Kuria, who was only 19 during the original Saba Saba uprising, spoke passionately about his personal experience as a young activist. Speaking during a recent interview with a local media outlet on June 22, 2025, he recalled Kenya’s difficult past and warned of the dangers of political violence.
“This use of goons sounds sweet. You know, you feel like you are on top of the world. But it will catch up with you. The same goons will catch up with you,” he warned.
Kuria stressed that his involvement in the 1990 protests gave him a unique perspective on the importance of safeguarding the movement’s legacy and preventing violence.
“As a 19-year-old, I was on the streets during Saba Saba. So it’s a territory I know too well. And it worries me when I see us crossing some lines there,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the growing use of hired goons in demonstrations, particularly in Nairobi and the Mt Kenya region.
“I decry because I never imagined I would live to see a situation whereby my people, my community, this side has goons, the other side has goons. Then what?” Kuria lamented.
Drawing a chilling comparison to Rwanda’s genocide, Kuria cautioned Kenyans not to take peace for granted.
“Rwanda did not wake up one day and wake up to genocide. It is a buildup of things,” he said.
“There are so many people who do not care about the things we are yapping about. There is an overwhelming majority of Kenyans who just want to go about their normal life,” he observed.
He urged Kenyans to come together and agree on basic values for the sake of national unity.
“There must be some minimum set of things we agree on. Surely we can’t disagree about everything. So when it comes to issues of having a country, let’s have a country first — a working country is a bonus,” he added.
Despite the growing tension ahead of Saba Saba Day, Kuria expressed hope for the future, praising Kenya’s potential and beauty.
“I do know, without a fear of contradiction, we have got a wonderful, good country which we know we should be very, you know, envious and jealous regarding our country,” he said.