by Faith leaders in Kenya have warned against continued violent demonstrations, saying they could tip the east African nation into self-destruction.
Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Party leader has called for a series of anti-government protests set to kick off on Wednesday, which he says will be a game-changer for the nation.
This is despite opposition from the church and a warning from the government that the three-day protests will not be allowed to take place.
“Starting on Wednesday, be ready for the game-changing Maandamano,” Raila Odinga said on Monday.
Demonstrations against the high cost of living last week left at least 23 people dead, according to a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, Jeremy Laurence.
In a collective statement, a cross-section of religious leaders, including representatives of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), warned President William Ruto against allowing the country to descend on the path of an insurrection.
“The suffering individual Kenyans are experiencing is pushing them into hopelessness that can easily inspire insurrection,” said the religious leaders in the statement signed by the Chairman of KCCB, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, NCCK Chairman Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, and SUPKEM chairman Al Hajj Hassan Ole Naado,
“Your Excellency, do not allow this country to go down this path,” they urged.
Noting that the country was on a “downward spiral into the abyss,” the clerics called on Ruto to reverse the trend “by adopting policies and strategies that give Kenyans hope while addressing the economic challenge in both short and long terms.”
Ruto signed a Finance Act 2023 in June that raised taxes in a country already reeling from the rising prices of basic commodities.
In response, Odinga called for nation-wide protests in what has been seen as an effort to force the government into collapse.
The faith leaders further bemoaned the destruction of businesses as well as public and private properties which, they said, was further “pushing the cost of living higher, not lower.”
They urged Odinga “to embrace dialogue and consultations as a strategy for addressing grievances so as to promote reconciliation.”
“Let us all resist the incitement and provocation to engage in violence and destruction which will destroy who we are and what our nation stands for,” they said.
“Since we are all hurting from the high cost of living, our best approach is to embrace non-violence as we demand better laws and policies.”
They appealed to Ruto to “hear the cry of the people of Kenya,” and guided by the Wisdom of God found in the Bible, give careful attention to the needs of the people.
Source: Crux, additional reporting by Zana team
