As Kenya nears the June 25 anniversary of the 2024 anti‑Finance Bill protests, the Kikuyu Council of Elders has issued a forceful appeal for nationwide peace.
Following a General Council meeting at their Ruaka headquarters, the elders urged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Independent Police Oversight Authority to decisively target hired thugs that could disrupt the upcoming Gen‑Z commemorations.
In the statement, Council Secretary General James Nene stressed that, as custodians of collective wisdom, the elders have a duty to counsel the nation and warn of emerging threats to stability.
The Council pointed out that, although Kenya has largely enjoyed harmony among its diverse ethnic groups, past politically‑driven violence in 1992, 1997, and 2007 serves as a stark reminder, and that current political rhetoric and reports of planned chaos in urban centers could easily destabilise the country.
They expressed concern over claims that political actors are using illicit funds and organised militias to incite trouble, warning that such actions could plunge Kenya into deep instability akin to the ongoing crisis in Haiti. Additionally, they cautioned citizens against being swayed by political pledges of compensation for past victims, noting that such funds come directly from taxpayers and should not be weaponised for political gain.
Aligning with these remarks, National Chairman Wachira Kiago urged Kenyans to reject violent retaliation, which only stalls progress and costs lives, calling on the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary to actively safeguard the nation.
Youth representatives also spoke at the briefing, urging their peers to maintain peace while honouring fallen protestors. They announced that participants would carry national flags, white handkerchiefs, and water to symbolize peaceful remembrance, but demanded that police protect them from criminals seeking to infiltrate and loot the events.