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KENYA: Anglican archbishop shares a message to Kenyans following recent unrest, calls for peace, unity and prayer
Anglican Communion News Service
July 22, 2024
The Most Rev. Jackson Ole Sapit, archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, has shared a message to the nation following recent Gen-Z unrest and called for peace, unity and prayer.
In the last few weeks, thousands of young people in Kenya, mobilizing under the banner of "Gen-Z," have taken to the streets in anti-government protests. The protests developed in June which was sparked by the controversial finance bill amidst rising tensions and instability in Kenya, over the last two years since the government took office. Commentators describe how youth anger has been simmering, caused by proposed tax rises, growing rates of unemployment and the cost-of-living crisis.
The anti-government protests happened in Nairobi and across other cities in Kenya. The demonstrations in Nairobi took a violent turn on June 25, with rights groups accusing officers of firing live rounds at demonstrators. Around 50 people have been killed to date.
Since that time, Sapit has called for stability and peace, lamenting injuries and casualties caused, and calling the international community to take notice of what is happening to the people of Kenya.
On July 19, Sapit shared a new statement, on behalf of the Kenyan House of Bishops, addressing the nation and calling the Anglican Church to dedicate Sunday, July 21, for prayers and fasting.
The statement includes a commendation of youth for their "demands for accountability" but appeals to Gen-zs to give time for the government to implement changes demanded. It honors the "lost and injured" and calls for accountability over brutality shown in law enforcement. It appeals to protestors to suspend protests and the opportunists who have infiltrated the protests as a cover to cause harm. The statement also calls for several governmental measures and changes to swiftly address areas of injustice.
