This tweet claims to show protests in Nairobi’s central business district, on July 7, 2023, during the Saba Saba protests.
Background
Saba Saba commemorates July 7, 1990, when nationwide protests happened to demand fair elections and the restoration of multi-party democracy. July 7, 2023 marked the 33rd Saba Saba protests. Both Tanzania and Kenya share the commemoration of July 7.
Unlike Kenya, Tanzania celebrates the founding of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) on July 7, 1954. TANU was the political party in the struggle for independence in Tanzania.
Verification
The image on the first frame is from March 20, 2023 during opposition-led protests. This reverse image search provides an image published by The Star Newspaper. Another similar image by Nation shows finer details of this image. (See comparisons circled below).
The second image allegedly showing an aerial shot of the Saba Saba protests was neither taken in Nairobi’s CBD, nor in Kenya. This reverse image search shows the image was taken in Istanbul, in 2014. According to a publication by the NewYork Times, this was during a protest following the murder of 15-year-old; Berkin Elvan. Berkin was hit by a police tear gas canister in June 2013.
To dispute this claim further, at the bottom left of the image is Ziraat Bankasi, a state-owned bank operating in Turkey.
Verdict
NO, these images were not taken during the July 7, 2023, Saba Saba protests.
This fact-check was edited by Piga Firimbi Fact-Checking Editor Linda Ngari.
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