The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has security agencies to uphold the rights of peaceful demonstrators ahead of the Saba Saba commemoration set for Monday, July 7.
Marking 35 years since the historic 1990 rally that sparked Kenya’s journey to multiparty democracy, this year’s Saba Saba protests come amid a wave of youth-led demonstrations demanding political accountability and economic justice.
In a statement signed by Chairman Rev. Dr. Elias Agola and General Secretary Rev. Canon Chris Kinyanjui, NCCK called on the police to guarantee the safety of all unarmed protesters and to remain impartial in the discharge of their duties.
“The police must not facilitate or partner with the armed goons who have been terrorising Kenyans and should instead arrest them together with their financiers,” read the statement.
NCCK expressed deep concern over what it described as a disturbing trend of unlawful crackdowns on peaceful protests, even when demonstrators have followed due process by notifying authorities.
“We are deeply perturbed by the growing trend where the state is blatantly, violently, and illegally denying Kenyans the right to picket,” the council said, citing multiple incidents where peaceful protesters were injured or killed with no accountability for the officers involved.
The council also condemned the alleged collusion between security forces and armed gangs, accusing them of attacking, robbing, and even sexually assaulting protesters with impunity.
NCCK took a firm stand against the proposed Assembly and Demonstration Bill, 2024, demanding its immediate withdrawal.
The Bill, first introduced last year, has reemerged in the wake of the current protests and is widely viewed as an attempt to restrict constitutional freedoms.
Civil society groups and human rights organisations have also opposed the Bill, warning that it threatens to reverse key democratic gains made since the 1990s.
The council called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to rescind his recent “shoot-to-kill” directive allegedly issued to the police and warned that he would be held accountable for any extra-judicial killings carried out under his watch.
“The Cabinet Secretary must be prepared to carry responsibility for all extra-judicial killings done by the police,” the statement warned.
Murkomen has however denied reports that he issued a “shoot-to-kill” directive to the police after the June 25 deadly protests.
The CS insisted that he has no legal authority to command the Inspector General of Police or any officer in the National Police Service.
According to the CS, police officers operate strictly within the law when using firearms.
Speaking in Kitui, Murkomen stated that the National Police Service Act of 2011 clearly outlines the circumstances under which an officer may discharge a firearm.
These, he said, include situations where an officer’s life is in danger, where another civilian’s life is threatened, or when a felon escapes custody.
“All police officers understand how to use a firearm,” he said.
“It is clearly provided for in the law. No officer is untrained on this.”
As part of its spiritual leadership, NCCK thanked churches across the country for dedicating Sunday worship services to discussions and prayers focused on justice, democracy, and good governance.
“Further, all those who are able to are encouraged to join in the commemoration of the birth of the clamour for constitutionalism and rule of law in our nation,” the statement concluded.
