They note that the government's primary responsibility is to “protect its citizens, not to threaten, silence, or punish them.”
“A society that instills fear in its youth for simply speaking out is a society walking away from justice,” the Catholic Bishops say.
In the eight-page collective statement, KCCB members recall the June 2024 Gen Z-led peaceful protests against high taxation, lack of opportunities, and an unresponsive system. They note that Kenyan youths “were expressing what many Kenyans had already felt and expressed.”
“These youth-led demonstrations reminded us of the power of civic consciousness and the rightful place of young people in shaping the country's direction,” they recall, adding that they found it unfortunate that the initially peaceful “protests soon degenerated into violent encounters and brutal use of force, leading to a huge loss of lives, especially of young people.”
Rather than “nurturing constructive youth participation, some state agencies have chosen to suppress it,” they lament.
Kenya’s Catholic Bishop emphasize the need to engage in peaceful protests, saying, “As Bishops, we appealed to the youth to exercise their rights peacefully and within the law,” the Catholic Church leaders say.
“Young people must be helped to develop their talents and responsibilities in a spirit of service to others,” they say, referring to the late Pope Francis’ Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of March 2019 to young people and the entire people of God, Christus Vivit.
Alluding to the protests planned for Wednesday, June 25 to mark the first anniversary of the Gen Z-led deadly demonstrations, KCCB members urge youths to “avoid any violent encounters during your protests and instead demonstrate your maturity.”
“We call on the Security agents to ensure we do not have a repeat of the protected goons, who brought violence in the recent protests. How can goons work together with the Police?” they pose recalling the June 17 Kenyan protests to demand justice after the controversial murder of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger, who was arrested on June 7 and confirmed dead on June 8, reportedly in police custody. The protestors clashed with club-wielding “goons” in the centre of the capital city, Nairobi, who reportedly received government protection.
KCCB members have demanded “justice for all those murdered and those shot, and the conviction of all the perpetrators.”
