The Kikuyu Council of Elders (KEC) has criticised President William Ruto for failing to listen to the voice of the youth and has instead urged him to tolerate dissent. 

The elders condemned the “brutal and animalistic abductions and shedding of blood of young Kenyans” calling for restraint from leaders to calm the tension across the country. 

They also condemned the violence, looting and destruction witnessed during June 25 demonstrations against police brutality. 

Speaking on Saturday during a press briefing at the KEC Headquarters in Kiambu, the lobby’s Secretary General James Nene said youth have a right to peacefully air their grievances through demonstrations and therefore should be heard.

“Criticism is the reward for leadership, accept it honorably. You have a vast educated, restless and tribeless youth under your watch. Extend friendship to them since no amount of violent can stop their probing or desire for change,” he said. 

KEC chairperson Wachira Kiago said “demonstrations are protected in the constitution,” and that the youths are supposed to be heard and not met with violence. 

“It is sad to wake up and find young people being killed. It is painful. They can be talked to,” said Mr. Kiago.

President Ruto’s administration continues to face backlash over the brutal force with which it has dealt with the Gen-Z protests demanding accountability and good governance. 

The recent wave of protests was sparked by the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ in a police cell.

At least 19 deaths, including that of Boniface Kariuki, shot at close range by uniformed police officers have been recorded in the latest protests that sought to mark the first anniversary of youth-led June 25, 2024, anti-Finance Bill protests which left over 60 people dead and dozens nursing gunshot wounds and several missing.

The police have largely been blamed for the unnecessary killings, abductions and forced disappearances, with the KEC elders now urging them to act with restraint to prevent more spilling of blood. 

“Stop killing your brothers and sisters. You will go home to them when your time is up,” said another elder, who also slammed government leaders for allegedly sponsoring goons to cause mayhem during protests.

“These are thugs in office. It is obvious and it has been reported. The goons are not acting on their own,” he stated. 

He appealed to Ruto to “extend an olive branch to the opposition to lower political temperatures for Kenya’s sake.”

KEC further crtiticised the President for constructing a church within State House saying, the country is a secular State, and that the action appears to discriminate against other religions. 

“We are wondering who will be worshipping in that church. He ought to have sought advice before building it. He would have not missed a place outside State House to put it up,” said the KEC chairman.