Senior cleric urges government to listen to youth
By David Macharia, July 1, 2025A senior Anglican Church cleric has called on the government to listen to grievances raised by Kenyan youth through demonstrations.
“They deserve to be heard, not dismissed. They are the present and future of this nation,” Nyahururu Anglican Diocese Bishop Samson Gachathi said yesterday during a fundraiser at a local cathedral.
He thanked young people for raising their voices but urged them to pursue their cause within the law.
He said he was saddened by last week’s events, when Kenya witnessed widespread demonstrations by youth protesting economic frustrations, governance concerns, and a sense of hopelessness.
He condemned police for brutalising youth through excessive force, saying “it is painful and unacceptable to see protesters severely beaten by law enforcers”.
He also condemned attacks on police officers during the demonstrations, saying violence, regardless of who perpetrates it, cannot be the way forward for Kenya.
The youth, he added, had shown boldness, passion, and clarity. However, he condemned the deaths and violence that accompanied some of the protests.
“Across Kenya, lives have been lost – young lives full of potential brutally cut short,” he mourned.
Bishop Gachathi also expressed sadness over the destruction of public and private property during the demonstrations, saying it undermined livelihoods and crippled services, particularly in Nyandarua where government installations were attacked.
He said the Anglican Church of Kenya recognises and upholds the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and expression, but reminded citizens that every right comes with responsibility.
He encouraged political leaders to pursue dialogue, consultation, and even alliances. He said such moves should be free of selfish power games.
“Kenyans don’t fear leaders working together; they only fear being used and abandoned in the process,” he said.
“Let every leader rise above personal ambition and serve the people with integrity and compassion.”
Some Ksh28 million was raised during the Sunday fundraiser.