'Stop the protests, give Ruto time,' Archbishop Ole Sapit tells Kenyan youth

Clergy members from the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) have urged Kenya's youthful anti-government protesters to immediately suspend protests and give President William Ruto time to address their grievances.

Led by ACK Archbishop Joseph Ole Sapit, the clergy commended the protesters, highlighting the domino effect their cause had on the Kenya Kwanza administration, including the sacking of the Cabinet and subsequent replacement of former Police Inspector General Japhet Koome.

The Archbishop, however, pointed out that Ruto requires more time to address the additional grievances raised during the protests.

"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.

"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 Ruto to move swiftly and implement the other demands made by the general public, including 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 others.

"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of taxes and levies especially the recently introduced housing levy and the unjust increased fuel levy must be withdrawn.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 Ruto to withdraw the current university funding model, which he says 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 Ruto to ensure that his next Cabinet nominees are persons 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."