CIPK urges youths to shun from protest

By Robert Mutasi 

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) has advised young people to refrain from protests and instead embrace peace.

This comes after the youth announced to have protests across the country on August 8, 2024.

Speaking at the meeting of the peace seminar, Mombasa, on Thursday, July 1, 2024, Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa, Organising Secretary of CIPK in Mombasa county, has urged the youth not to get involved in activities that will endanger their safety.

Sheikh Khalifa has claimed that many young people have been misused to create violence and now it is time to recognize the importance of peace.

He has instructed religious leaders to sensitize the public on the importance of peace. 

"This session is special, we have chosen to discuss with the Imams, when we return to the community and the mosques, let's make sure that our youth or adults or whoever is not used to bring violence or be used to incite," said Khalifa. 

"We should not allow young people to get hurt by entering into things that will endanger their safety, that is our call," he added. 

Khalifa now wants the youth to join together as Kenyans to declare peace among the communities for the benefit of the nation.

The treasurer of the council, Sheikh Hassan Omar, has said that the government has heard the cries of the youth and has already started working on the wishes of the youth. 

He has urged the youth to give the government enough time to finish implementing the issues they raised. 

Omar has praised the government for creating a united government that has brought Kenyans together and explained that it is one of the wishes that the youth wanted. 

Omar emphasized that young people can submit complaints or issues through peaceful means and not protests. 

"We have already seen that the government has done a lot of what the young people wanted and now a joint government has been formed. The government has opened the door to dialogue and a way to find peace and give everyone the right to speak," said Omar.

He has clarified that this is not the right time for protests and instead they should give the government time to boost economy. 

"We as Imams say there is no longer any need for any kind of protest, if they have claims, they should go to the government and sit together and talk," he stated.