Yesterday, Kenya commemorated 35 years since the inception of the Saba Saba Movement on July 7, 1990, a pivotal day in the nation's history celebrated for its call for multiparty democracy amid an autocratic regime. Despite its historical significance in championing democratic freedoms, the day was overshadowed by fresh protests, violence, and a troubling death toll.

The day commenced with major roads to Nairobi’s Central Business District being blocked, setting the stage for clashes. A navigation app providing live updates on barricades and police formations became a crucial tool for city residents. Tensions escalated quickly, with police and protesters engaging in violent confrontations reported widely by the media by midday.

The Kenya Medical Association condemned the road blockades, highlighting the severe impact on emergency medical services reaching the injured. The protests took a darker turn as looters took advantage of the chaos, affecting businesses not just in Nairobi, but nationwide.

In a grave escalation of the police's response, live ammunition was used, a method supposed to be a last resort, resulting in numerous casualties. By evening, the grim tally included 19 dead, 44 injured, and 34 arrests. Among the deceased was a 14-year-old boy, a stark reminder of the day’s brutality.

Adding to the controversy were sightings of individuals in unmarked vehicles, believed to be plainclothes police officers, who reportedly fired directly at protesters. This action starkly contradicts a recent High Court judgement emphasizing that plainclothes officers should not manage protests, as it undermines constitutional rights to assembly and demonstration.

Allegations of state-sponsored violence surfaced with reports of goons infiltrating the protests, believed to be paid by local politicians to incite further violence. A Kenyan CNN reporter even claimed an attack on him was incentivized by a politician, highlighting a manipulative approach to quashing media freedom and altering narratives.

These events cast a long shadow over the legal protections supposed to safeguard Kenyan citizens, raising poignant questions about the integrity of those entrusted to uphold these rights. As this year’s Saba Saba observance not only doubled the death toll seen in last month's finance bill protests but also seemed to follow a now-familiar pattern of state response, it prompts a critical introspection on the part of the Kenyan government and its accountability to its people.

As the dust settles, the nation is left grappling with the glaring issues of human rights violations and the apparent misuse of power by those in authority, challenging the very essence of the democratic freedoms that Saba Saba Day was meant to epitomize.