The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) church leaders have asked Gen Z protesters to suspend their anti-government protests and allow President William Ruto to work on their issues.
Addressing the press at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on Friday, July 19, 2024, the clergy led by the Archbishop Joseph Ole Sapit acknowledged the youngsters’ efforts in transforming the country towards the right direction.
He noted that the move by the youthful protesters to keep the government in check and demand better governance has brought significant impact including the firing of Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and the resignation of former police IG Japhet Koome.
Sapit, however, indicated that the young protesters should now halt the protests and give the president more time to work on the pending grievances aired.
“Whereas we appreciate the Gen Z and commend their course, we nevertheless appeal to them to give the government time to allow them to implement the changes that are demanded. Please desist from action that would jeopardize the future that we are all fighting for,” he said.
“We appeal to protesters to suspend protests and give the government time to attend to the raft of demands, some of which the President has begun to address including firing most of his Cabinet Secretaries, signing of the IEBC Amendment Bill 2024 into law and the resignation of the IG of Police among others.”
The man of the cloth also called on the government to ensure that all additional demands including fulfilled.
Sapit also urged the state to refrain from imposing additional taxes and levies and particularly called for the withdrawal of the housing levy.
“In view of these measures the government must come up with, in the next one week, an implementation matrix of these demands and make it available for public scrutiny and monitoring. There is much talk about creating employment for the youth, let this be backed by a genuine action,” he said.
“We demand that the government must stop further imposition of taxes and levies especially the recently introduced housing levy and the unjust increased fuel levy must be withdrawn. Taxpaying Kenyans do not see value for the money of these schemes.”
He additionally underscored that the church will actively play its part by ensuring that the demands raised by the youthful protesters are met.
“We, us a church will monitor and report any progress that is made and also demand that whatever has been committed should be implemented,” Sapit added.