Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged his successor William Ruto to listen to the grievances of Kenyans and respect their right to demonstrate.
This follows ongoing protests against the Finance Bill 2024 that saw demonstrators take over Kenya’s parliament building yesterday.
In a statement last evening, President Kenyatta expressed regret for those who have lost their lives during the demonstrations and advised his successor to embrace dialogue and ‘talk to the people, not at the people.’
“Dear Kenyans, I stand with you and I ask our leadership to embrace dialogue and SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE AND NOT AT THE PEOPLE. I pray for peace and understanding on the part of each and every Kenyan and for all of us to remember that Kenya is bigger than any one of us; there is nothing cast in stone that cannot be changed,” Kenyatta said.
Kenyatta emphasized that ignoring the issues troubling Kenyans would only exacerbate the current situation. He stressed that leaders must recognize that their power and authority are granted by the people.
“Leaders must know that the power and authority they have is donated to them by the people. I, therefore, call for calm and for the leadership to show restraint and do the right thing by listening to the people and not being antagonistic to them,” he stated.
“At this trying time for our country, I want to remind all leaders that they were elected by the people. Listening to the people is not a choice but a mandate enshrined in the principles of our constitution and in the very basis and philosophy of democracy,” he added.
On Tuesday, the situation escalated dramatically when protesters stormed Parliament after the bill was passed, leading to violent clashes with the police.
According to media reports from Nairobi, at least four protesters were shot dead, and several others sustained serious injuries as police used live bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. The chaos prompted Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to authorize the deployment of the military to support the overwhelmed police forces.
Odinga Speaks out
Meanwhile, Raila Odinga, another key figure in Kenyan political affairs for a long time warned Ruto against the use of violence to quell peaceful protests.
“I am deeply troubled by the violent and deadly crackdown on young, peaceful protesters exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”
Odinga added: “I am disturbed at the murders, arrests, detentions and surveillance being perpetrated by police on boys and girls who are only seeking to be heard over taxation policies that are stealing both their present and future.”
Odinga who is a former prime minister went on: “Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because the children are asking for food, jobs and a listening ear. Police must therefore immediately stop shooting innocent, peaceful and unarmed protesting children who are asking for guarantees of a better tomorrow from the State.”
Despite Uhuru and Odinga’s statements calling for dialogue, William Ruto in an address that has been criticized for lacking empathy and respect for those who lost their lives vowed to deploy all the necessary forces to crush the demonstrators.
Mr Ruto instead noted that the protests were nothing but an act of treason and that they were being conducted by organized criminals.
Meanwhile, several Kenyans on social media have responded to Ruto’s claims, saying they will not relent, with some calling for his resignation.
Analysts have criticized the Ruto government for promoting unfair financial policies which they say are being fueled by the World Bank and IMF.
