In a video captured on July 19, 2024, at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Joseph Ole Sapit addresses journalists.
The clergy members of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), led by Archbishop Sapit, have called on Kenya's youthful anti-government protesters to suspend their demonstrations and allow President William Ruto time to address their grievances.
Archbishop Sapit and his fellow clergy commended the protesters for the significant impact their movement has had on the Kenya Kwanza administration. Their efforts led to the sacking of the Cabinet and the replacement of former Police Inspector General Japhet Koome.
However, the Archbishop emphasized that President Ruto needs more time to tackle the additional issues raised during the protests. By pausing the demonstrations, the youth can give the administration a chance to implement meaningful changes and address their concerns.
"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 at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.
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"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."
Additionally, Ole Sapit urged President Ruto to act swiftly in implementing the public's other demands. These include cutting government expenditures and the wage bill, reducing the size of the government, prioritizing essential services, and freezing both local and foreign accounts of all corruption suspects, among other measures.
"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 a genuine action," he said.
"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of taxes and levies especially the recently introduced housing levy and the unjust increased fuel levy must be withdrawn.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."
Ole Sapit further urged President Ruto to withdraw the current university funding model, stating that it has made higher education inaccessible to many deserving and needy students.
"We recommend a thorough review of the funding model to ensure it is inclusive and promotes equity," he said.
Additionally, he implored President Ruto to ensure that his next Cabinet nominees are individuals of integrity and merit.
"Going forward, let the President heed the voice of Kenyans and appoint both the commissioners and the Cabinet men and women of high integrity and competence," said the Archbishop.
"Let merit and proven track record be the criteria for these appointments. Rewarding political allies and cronies must be avoided at all costs."
