NAIROBI — Religious leaders are demanding accountability from the State following deadly crackdowns during recent protests. The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) are calling for urgent national dialogue and a full investigation into the use of force by security agencies.
The Inter-Religious Council condemned the violence witnessed during the demonstrations, warning that Kenya risks sliding into lawlessness unless immediate action is taken.
“The nation is bleeding. We demand accountability, an end to the violence, and a commitment to dialogue,” the Council said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
The clerics asked President William Ruto to hold accountable those responsible for violence, corruption, and human rights abuses. They urged him to resist any effort to divide the country along religious or ethnic lines.
The Council proposed the immediate establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate all protest-related deaths reported since June. At least 30 people were killed during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
Religious leaders also offered to mediate between the government and the youth, whose voices have driven recent anti-tax and anti-corruption protests across major cities.
FIDA Kenya demanded Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja disclose the identities of plainclothes officers involved in shooting civilians during protests.
The group urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to speed up its investigations into police misconduct and release its findings to the public without delay.
“The public has the right to know who gave the orders, who pulled the trigger, and what measures the State is taking to prevent further abuses,” read part of FIDA’s statement.
The growing number of civilian deaths and injuries from police action has drawn sharp criticism from local and international observers. United Nations officials have called for restraint, citing the constitutional limits on the use of force.
President Ruto, under growing pressure, has defended the police reaffirming that the constitution does not allow police officers to shoot protestors but also said looters should be shot in the legs a remark that sparked further outrage and concern over human rights violations.
As the political crisis deepens, calls for justice, transparency, and reconciliation are growing louder. Religious leaders say the country’s stability now depends on the State’s willingness to act lawfully and engage its citizens.
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