Government Orders Civil Servants to Work Amid Threat of Saba Saba Protests—Defiance Sparks Controversy.

The government today issued a bold directive requiring all civil servants to report for duty on Monday, July 7, despite mounting concerns over planned Saba Saba Day demonstrations that threaten disruption across the country.

In a statement delivered in Embu County alongside President William Ruto, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku made it unequivocally clear: Saba Saba Day will not be treated as a holiday, and government employees who fail to appear at their workplace will face immediate consequences.

“Tomorrow, Monday, is not a public holiday. All civil servants across the Republic of Kenya are expected to be in their offices regardless,” Ruku stated, defining the start of office hours at 8 a.m. and the end at 5 p.m.—with a strict lunch break at 12:30 p.m. He warned of “show-cause letters” and unannounced spot-checks in both regional and sub-county offices .

Rising Tensions Ahead of Protest Day

This directive churns controversy as the nation braces for fresh protests inspired by Saba Saba, originally a 1990 uprising demanding multiparty democracy. Mass youth mobilization, escalating property damage during the June 25 protests, and the looming specter of violence have already prompted over 20 schools to preemptively close and parents to keep children home.

Private businesses have shifted to remote operations in anticipation of disturbances, while public institutions prepare for disruption. Security forces remain on high alert, following National Council of Churches warnings against extrajudicial measures like “shoot-to-kill” orders.

Why This Matters Now

• Government Defiance: The order underscores the state’s determination to maintain normalcy and civil services, even as unrest brews.
• Workplace Risk: Civil servants now face the dilemma of personal safety versus professional obligation, with disciplinary action at stake.
• Economic & Social Fallout: With protests expected to draw large crowds and potentially turn violent, government presence could be disrupted—and so could essential services.

What to Watch

1. Compliance Rate: Will civil servants report to work? Early indicators will surface Monday morning.
2. Enforcement Actions: Will spot-checks result in mass show-cause notices?
3. Protest Dynamics: Will Saba Saba protests remain peaceful, or will clashes escalate, involving public workers and government operations?