Religious leaders condemn disruption of Nairobi post-budget forum
By Faith Lagat, June 14, 2026Religious leaders and civil society groups have condemned the violent disruption of a post-budget public participation forum held at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on Friday, June 12, 2026, describing the incident as an attack on constitutional freedoms and peaceful civic engagement.
The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), in a statement issued on Saturday, June 13, 2026, expressed concern over the events that unfolded during the forum, which had brought together citizens, faith leaders, private sector representatives and policy experts to discuss the 2026/27 national budget.
“No amount of threats or thuggery will deter the people of Kenya from exercising their right and responsibility,” the council said.
The forum, organised in collaboration with civil society organisations including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Institute for Social Accountability (TISA Kenya), focused on the Ksh4.82 trillion budget presented by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
Participants discussed key issues including the cost of living, healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure and public debt.
CCTV footage captures chaos
CCTV footage from the cathedral compound showed groups of men arriving on motorbikes before forcing their way into the premises during the forum.
According to footage reviewed by local media, police officers arrived shortly after and removed some of the intruders. However, the group later returned on foot after leaving their motorcycles near Valley Road and re-entered the cathedral compound.
The footage shows panic among participants as the men moved through corridors and meeting rooms. Some attendees fled to upper floors while others were reportedly confronted and robbed.
Police officers later intervened and fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd. One suspect was arrested at the scene. Several participants reported losing personal belongings, including mobile phones.
Faith groups demand accountability
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) also condemned the incident, describing it as a “blatant and despicable desecration of the All Saints Cathedral” and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
NCCK urged authorities to investigate the incident and prosecute all perpetrators, including any public officials found to have played a role.
Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya) similarly criticised the disruption, stating: “State-hired goons stormed a Post-Budget Dialogue Forum… We condemn this act of intimidation and assert that it will not deter us from scrutinising the budget.”
TISA Kenya also condemned the incident, saying: “Goons cannot silence the people’s voice.”
Calls to protect civic space
IRCK Executive Director Linus Nthiga called on security agencies to safeguard peaceful assemblies and ensure those behind the disruption are brought to justice.
The council said incidents targeting lawful public gatherings threaten democratic participation and undermine efforts to promote accountability and public engagement.
Religious leaders urged Kenyans to continue participating in civic processes peacefully, while civil society organisations vowed to continue monitoring public spending and advocating for meaningful public participation in governance.