The opening ceremony the Global Peace Leadership Conference (GPLC) 2024 initially slated for June 26 in Nairobi has been abruptly cancelled due to the ongoing anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, June 26, GPLC Africa expressed regret over the decision, citing recent violent events that have gripped the country.
“In light of the events over the last two days in Kenya, the loss of lives, and the casualties of the protests at the Parliament on June 25, 2024, we have decided to cancel the Opening Ceremony,” the statement read in part.
The cancellation comes in the wake of deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces in parliament on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, that resulted in the loss of lives and injuries of protesters.
GPLC Africa further reported that President William Ruto would no longer be attending the much-anticipated event.
“The president of Kenya, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto C.G.H, will not be in attendance.”
“We mourn those who have died, pray for a full recovery for those who were injured, and hope for healing for this nation so that it can find a way forward towards a future that benefits all its people,” the statement added.
The conference is slated to run between June 25 and 27, 2024.
Ruto to thwart violent protests
While addressing the nation on Tuesday evening hours after chaos erupted in the country, President Ruto said that the deadly demonstrations were caused by criminals purporting to be protesters.
The Head of State stated that an organized criminal group was responsible for the attack on the protesters.
He emphasized that the government is deploying all available resources to prevent similar violent demonstrations in the future.
He condemned the incident and assured that Kenya’s security forces are actively working to stop any further attacks by these criminals who terrorized the protesters.
Ruto expressed his gratitude to the security forces for their efforts in protecting the citizens.
“I thank our security officers who were on duty today for applying themselves to the best of their abilities in the defence of Kenya and its people. I have directed all organs of our national security to thwart any attempt by criminals to undermine the security and stability of Kenya,” Ruto said.
KDF deployment
On Tuesday evening moments before Ruto claimed a criminal entity attacked the anti-tax protesters, Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Duale gazetted the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to ‘assist’ in maintaining order.
In the gazette notice dated Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Duale said the government called upon the KDF to support in maintaining order after the ‘violent’ protests escalated leading to the destruction of critical government infrastructure
“Pursuant to Article 241 (3) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya as read with sections 31 (1) (a), 31 (1) (c), 33 (1), 34 (1) and 34 (2) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, (Cap. 199), the Kenya Defence Forces is deployed on the 25th June, 2024 in support of the National Police Service in response to the security emergency caused by the ongoing violent protests in various parts of the Republic of Kenya resulting in destruction and breaching of critical infrastructure,” Duale stated.
