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Catholic Bishops condemn violence, call for peaceful resolution to anti-Finance Bill protests

Isiolo residents take part in the anti-Finance Bill protests on June 25, 2024. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu/EV)

By Mary Wambui | Tuesday, June 25, 2024

The bishops finally condemned police use of force, arrests and indiscriminate and unnecessary use of live bullets on protesters.

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops has implored the government to have a moment of reflection and listen to the appeals made by anti-Finance Bill 2024 protesters who today accessed Parliament and took over the premises amidst heavy security presence.

In a briefing, the Catholic church said it is saddened by the direction the protests have taken by degenerating into violent conflict.

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"This was not the initial aim of the Gen-Z protests. We appeal to the police not to shoot at other protesters and appeal to the young people to remain peaceful," the bishops said.

The statement by 29 bishops including Nyeri archbishop Antony Muheria, Anthony Kivuva (Mombasa) and Philip Anyolo (Nairobi) said no one should lose his or her life while airing their grievances peacefully and condoled with those who were shot and injured while at the same time pleaded for calm and meaningful engagement for the good of the country.

"We also need to advise against unconstitutional actions like attempting to take over parliament due to their serious consequences," the bishops said.

The protests that reached a fever pitch on Tuesday are meant to push the government to drop its hard stance on the Finance Bill 2024 which Kenyans have dismissed as too punitive owing to the current prolonged hard economic times.

"If adopted in its current form, it will add pain to many families who are already suffering the consequences of adopting the 2023/2024 Finance Bill that was signed into law. We appreciate that some major revisions were made to the draft bill in response to the suggestions from the public participation, but still feel that some of our important suggestions were not registered. We call upon the legislators to be guided by their conscience in addressing this bill and the good of the Kenyans," the church said.

They added that while the government must tax its citizens, the same should be done in a way that they are not overtaxed.

They further told the government to consider that the young protesters are feeling the pain their families and themselves are going through courtesy of the taxes that only raise the cost of living.

"We plead with the president that he listens to the voices of so many, and respond concretely to the current situation, triggered by the proposed finance bill," they said.

To the protesters, the bishops urged them to stay their course and not be misused for hidden interests by some of the people who may be interested in taking advantage of them to advance their agenda.

"We ask you to be on guard so that you may not be misused for goals that are not part of your genuine concerns."

The bishops finally condemned police use of force, arrests and indiscriminate and unnecessary use of live bullets on protesters.

"The police have many ways to ensure protests remain peaceful. They should focus on criminals who implant themselves in peaceful protests to create chaos and rob or destroy property," they said.