KENYA: “Politics in Kenya has to Change,” Nuncio After Generation Z-Led Protests
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The representative of the Holy Father in Kenya has challenged the government, politicians and all citizens that politics in Kenya needs to change and it will never be same again after the protests against the Finance Bill 2024, which aims to raise nearly over $2.7 billion of tax increase.
Addressing congregants Saturday, June 29, at an ordination of the first ever African to be ordained a member of the Vincentian Congregation, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen pointed out that the protest is in a way a form of revolution in the country.
“We have witnessed a revolution in Nairobi. What happens after this? Politics in this country will have to change,” the Vatican diplomat said during the event at Vincentian Prayer House in Lavington, Nairobi, adding that, “If the government wants to allay the fear and anger not only of the youths but all the hustlers of this great country, they cannot continue and do business as usual. Business has to change because our youths mean business.”
The Tuesday, June 25, protests that led to the death of dozens of protesters in the country and several others injured, saw the Head of State withdraw the controversial Bill and not sign it into law.
“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” President William Samoei Ruto said Wednesday, June 26, after a massive protest that turned violent.
The Nuncio decry how the youth-led protestors were handled during the demonstrations saying, “As all the revolutions and also this one, unfortunately, but nearly inevitably, were accompanied by violence. Oppressors against the oppressed, heavily armed security forces against poorly protected protestors, water cannons, teargas, live bullets against sticks and stones, oppression against protests, sirens and explosions against shouting and pleading of protestors.”
He continued describing the Tuesday 25 situation, there were “state machinery shooting at free will, blood on the streets, dead bodies left behind wounded on the square of Holy Family Basilica, youths killed in Githurai, (An urban settlement located at the border of Nairobi County and Kiambu County), internet influencers and student leaders abducted, tortured, humiliated and dumped in the dark and filthy ditches of Nairobi.”
Addressing the young people who were attending the ordination, Archbishop van Megen posed several challenging questions giving room for the youths to reflect on their actions towards the protest.
“My dear friends, young men as you sit here, how did you see it, how did u live these days and where were you? Maybe you felt the need to join your age mates the GenZees, (Generation Z) or maybe you wanted to shout for justice and freedom.”
He continued, “Ask yourself where do u stand in all these? Will you be ready to give your life for justice and peace in this country? Where do u belong? What would u do?
The Dutch-born Prelate who was officially appointed to Kenya in 2019, disclosed that Catholics and in fact the Church should not be disconnected from the political events in the country, appreciating the support given to protestors from the Cathedral of the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi.
“Thanks to the young doctors and nurses who offered their services and thanks to the lawyers. Thanks to the priests and religious whose habits and albs were smeared with blood as they bandaged the wounded and consoled those in pain and despair. They were the images of the good shepherd taking the lost sheep on his shoulder,” the Nuncio said referencing the words of Pope Francis, “they took the smell of the sheep and together with doctors, nurses, lawyers and psychologists, they were like the good Samaritans cleaning wounds and bandaging them.”
