KENYA: Kenya is “Bleeding,” Catholic Bishops Call Government to Reflect, Listen to Anti-Tax Demos
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) on Tuesday, June 25, called upon the government to take a moment to reflect and listen to the cry of the people, when a violent demonstration erupted in major cities including the capital city, Nairobi sparked by rising frustrations over the new finance bill 2024.
“The country is bleeding, we invite the Government to reflect on this matter with the seriousness it deserves…. We appeal and plead that we have a moment of reflection and listening,” the bishops said in their collective statement after convening a press conference at Donum Dei, Roussel House in Karen, Nairobi when the demos were ongoing.
The protests by thousands of demonstrators across the nation predominantly young people of Generation Z, (Gen-Z) voiced their opposition through chants and placards, and eventually, tensions escalated in Nairobi when protestors attempted to march towards the Parliament building, encountering a heavy police barricade.
“We are saddened that what started as lawful protests are degenerating into violent conflict. This was not the initial aim of the Genzee protests,” a section of the bishops read out the message to the nation and they continued, “We earnestly appeal to the police not to shoot at the protesters. We also appeal to the young people to remain peaceful.”
As protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament and burnt a section of it, the Church leaders led by the Chairman Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu Archdiocese, advised against “unconstitutional actions like attempting to take over parliament due to their serious consequences, pleading for a peaceful and meaningful engagement for the good of the nation.”
According to KCCB members, the excessive taxation in the contentious Finance Bill 2024/2025 elicited reactions of resistance from most Kenyans, and “If adopted in its current form it will add pain to many families who are already suffering the consequences of adopting the 2023/24 Finance Bill that was signed into law.”
The bishops who earlier during the public participation process had expressed their concern about the finance bill and asked for its revision to protect the vulnerable noted that the GenZees took to the streets to express their displeasure
“We understand therefore why the GenZees have taken to the streets to express their displeasure to the government. The young generation is alive to the negative impact punitive taxes have in their own lives. The government needs to face the plain truth that families are immensely suffering,” the Church leaders said and narrated further, “Young people have reached a point of taking it upon themselves to express discontent with the insensitivity of the Government to these unwarranted taxes that only raise higher the cost of living.”
“The Government must listen to the pain of its citizens caused by the high cost of living. Ignoring them will only escalate tensions in the country and draw young people and citizenry into despair,” KCCB members read the statement pleading with the Head of State President William Ruto to “listen to the voices of so many and respond concretely to the current situation, triggered by the proposed Finance bill.”
The desperation of the young people the bishops said, comes because of a lack of employment.
“We have consistently called on the Government to be responsible for creating an environment in which young people can use their knowledge to create jobs, get employed, or pursue meaningful opportunities,” they said and expounded, “We are yet to see a clear and well-defined roadmap to this end.”
They suggested that the “billions siphoned from taxpayer money, for example, are enough to employ thousands of youths. In the absence of tangible initiatives, young people are right in expressing their desperation since they are not getting the promised jobs, they do not see a government that is committed to using the taxes it collects for justifiable ends.”
The bishops commended GenZees for being proactive citizens, for pointing out the challenges of the Government, and for generating a slogan during the demonstrations saying, “We are peaceful.”
“This is a step in the right direction as affirmed in scripture: “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion,” (Psalm 11:5).
The Catholic bishops further called on the GenZees to use their creativity and innovative skills for constructive engagements.
“Even as we commend you GenZ for being proactive, we would like to advise that in themselves protests will not solve the problem of government insensitivity in addressing problems like the Finance Bill,” they said addressing the young protestors, “With your creativity and innovative technology tools available, which you are using to organize yourselves and pass your message to the government, you need to consider more innovative approaches to draw constructive engagement to address the social and economic woes our country is facing.”
“Do not give up on pursuing direct engagement with the government and other stakeholders. We also encourage patience as you engage,” the bishops’ said and warned the young people, not to be misused for hidden interests,” as they pursue genuine concerns of unemployment.
