The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops has condemned police brutality witnessed in the ongoing Anti-Finance Bill protests that have rocked most parts of the country.
The church leaders, speaking on Tuesday evening shortly after obscure scenes witnessed in most government premises and looting in supermarkets, condemned the actions taken by the police to use stray bullets at protesters.
They noted the intense intolerance that they said has led to violence. The leaders urged both the security agencies and the public to stop violating the rule of law.
"Intolerance slowly breeds anarchy and is the seeds of violence. No one should the law into their hands," they said in a joint press on Tuesday.
In a move to note the recent incidences that have emerged from the nationwide protests, the church leaders condoled with the families affected.
"Condolences and prayers to the families affected during the protest. We send condolences to the families that lost their loved ones during the protest."
The church leaders also expressed their sympathies to the police officer who lost his hands in the line of duty.
According to them, police brutality paints a very bad image and reputation of the security agencies, they reiterated the need for every person to consider life sacred. They added that life should be protected by all means in any legal parameters.
They further appealed to the Independent Police Oversight Authority Unit (IPOA) to commence a thorough investigation into the already reported death incidents in the ongoing protests.
"We appeal to the IPOA to bring the police to book noting the already recorded incidences of the lives lost needlessly."
They also called on President William Ruto to restore sanity, and unity in the nation by not signing the finance bill into law. This according to them will pave way for intense public participation that will see all views captured.
The church leaders noted the need to embrace an all inclusive honest public participation, if the President will reconsider a fresh public engagement on the mentioned bill
They further pleaded with the youths, infamous Gen Z, to remain peaceful even as they exercise their freedom of expression and picketing as enshrined in the constitution.
