Catholic Bishops during the press conference, called on youths to carryout peaceful protests. Photo: KCCB X.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has slammed the Kenya Kwanza government for enabling extrajudicial killings, silencing dissent, and mismanaging public resources while ignoring the suffering of ordinary.
In a joint statement, KCCB expressed its concern over increased cases of mysterious disappearances, extra-judicial killings, and violent intimidation by the police officers, citing the recent killings in the country, KCCB including the shooting of Boniface Kariuki at point blank range by police during last week protests at Moi Avenue.
“The life of every Kenyan matters. Kenya must stop at a loss of life and not just move on. We can’t move on. Kenya deserves better,” they said.
They have described the events as a threat to national commitment, justice and accountability and disregard to human life, massively violated by the police currently witnessed.
“When those charged with upholding law and order become the source of fear and injustice, it signals a moral crisis in the State. These incidents are not isolated. They follow a disturbing pattern that threatens our national commitment to the Constitution and human rights,” read the statement.
They faulted the government for harsh crackdown on youth-led protests, who took to the streets last year over high taxes and lack of opportunities. In response, the government responded with brutality, abductions, and killings.
“Our young people are not enemies of the State. They are citizens with valid concerns who should be heard and supported in building a better future future for all. Many Kenyans citizens are voicing these same concerns,” they urged.
Th Bishops further urged the Gen Zs to conduct peaceful protests and avoid violence to as witnessed in June 2024, that saw 60 youths losing their lives.
“We appeal to the youth to exercise their rights peacefully and within the law. Avoid any violent encounters during protests and instead demonstrate your maturity,” the bishops pleaded.
According to them, the government has been slow persecution of cases, under what they described as selective application of law, which they argued that it erodes the trust of citizens in the judicial and investigating institutions in the country, mainly targeting the poor and vulnerable in the society.
“This imbalance discredits our legal institutions and disorients society’s moral compass. We call for the independence of the judiciary, the equality of all before the law, and the rejection of impunity at every level. The justice system should not be seen to favour the powerful while being used against the weak,” read the statement.
