During his days as a leader of students at the University of Nairobi, Senator James Orengo has gained a reputation as a political activist.
Orengo was one of the lawmakers that resisted the Moi dictatorship because of his outspokenness on subjects of national significance.
The Saba Saba protests were in full swing in the 1990s as the opposition leaders pushed for multi-party democracy.
Orengo had experienced his fair share of arrests, torture, and exile under Moi’s leadership, and many had been subjected to the violence of police during demonstrations and while they were holding them.
On July 7, 1991, Orengo, Masinde Muliro, and Martin Shikuku were traveling to the Kamukunji grounds when they were stopped in their tracks by gunfire.
One bullet struck the pick-tank up’s as they passed through Nairobi’s Bahati neighborhood as gunfire grew louder. They stopped when they saw a petrol leak and switched automobiles as a result.
They hopped into a different car and went up to Kariobangi, where they were stopped and put into a Peugeot station wagon.
After that, the agitating lawmakers were brought to Nairobi Area Police Headquarters.
A rally in Kamukunji was attempted by the pro-reform movement, led by the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), a few months later on November 16, 1991.
The Moi administration proclaimed it unlawful, police encircled the area, and the courageous protesters who challenged them were assaulted and gassed with tear gas.
Though the rally was aborted; the day became an important landmark on the road to multipartyism which was achieved in 1992.
by: Deathrow