Ole Sapit urges Gen-Zs to suspend protests

By Peter Ochieng

Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) clergy have given a thumbs up to Kenyan youth, popularly known as millennials and Gen-Z for demanding accountability from President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.

The push by the youth, through weekly protests since mid-June have seen President Ruto withdraw the Finance Bill 2024, and dissolve his entire cabinet, in a bid to prevent widespread protests against his administration, two years into office.

Led by Archbishop Joseph Ole Sapit, head of the Anglican church in Kenya, the men of the cloth said the message of the youth has been heard ‘loud and clear,’ urging them to step back and give Ruto time to work on their demands.

"We appeal to protesters to suspend protests and give the government time to attend to the raft of demands, some of which the President has begun to address including firing most of his Cabinet Secretaries, signing of the IEBC Amendment Bill 2024 into law and the resignation of the IG of Police among others," said Ole Sapit during a press conference at the All-Saints Cathedral, Nairobi.

As a church, Ole Sapit said they will follow up to ensure that every pledge made by Ruto is fully fulfilled. "Please desist from actions that will jeopardise the very future that we are all fighting for. We as a church will monitor and report any progress that is made and also demand that whatever has been committed should be implemented."

He said the President should fold his sleeves and start working for Kenyans, adding that some issues raised by the youth, including managing the country’s wage bill should be acted upon within the shortest time possible.

"In view of these measures the government must come up with, in the next one week, an implementation matrix of these demands and make it available for public scrutiny and monitoring. There is much talk about creating employment for the youth, let this be backed by genuine action," said Ole Sapit.

"We demand that the government must stop further imposition of taxes and levies, especially the recently introduced housing levy and the unjust increased fuel levy must be withdrawn. Taxpaying Kenyans do not see value for the money of these schemes."

In conclusion, he said they recommend a thorough review of the higher education funding model, to ensure inclusivity and equality.