The All Saints Cathedral has requested an apology from Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome concerning the actions of police officers during the recent anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests in Nairobi.
According to a statement released on Sunday, the church reported that protesters sought refuge within their premises on Tuesday, June 25. Despite this, teargas canisters were allegedly thrown and live rounds fired within their compound, resulting in injuries to some individuals.
“At 4:30 pm a contingent of military officers stormed the compound of ASC threatening everyone they found. Ordering unarmed. peaceful youth to lie down and they shot live bullets indiscriminately in the compound,” read the statement in part.
The church said as such, the police violated the church’s sanctity. It demanded that police respect all protected public infrastructures.
“We therefore demand an apology from the inspector General of Police for his officers nearly deconsecrating our place of worship,” said the cathedral.
President William Ruto yielded to increasing public pressure on Wednesday, June 26, announcing his decision not to sign the contentious Finance Bill 2024 into law. Instead, he expressed his intention to engage with Kenyan youth to listen to their perspectives and concerns.
Ruto has formally submitted a Memorandum of Referral to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, initiating the process to withdraw the controversial Bill. Protests against the proposed legislation resulted in the deaths of over 27 youths by police gunfire, with many others sustaining injuries.
Human rights organizations suggest that the actual number of victims might be higher, given that unidentified bodies are reportedly in morgues across the country.
