Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has addressed the nation, urging calm and dialogue as protests against the controversial Finance Bill continue to escalate, resulting in loss of life and widespread unrest.
In a heartfelt statement, Kenyatta expressed his deep sorrow over the deaths caused by the current turmoil. “My fellow Kenyans, I come to you with a heavy heart, saddened by the loss of lives occasioned by the current situation prevailing in our country,” he began.
Kenyatta emphasized the constitutional right of every Kenyan to protest and reminded leaders of their duty to listen to their constituents. “It is the right of every Kenyan to protest as determined by the constitution we all promulgated in 2010. It is also the duty of leaders to listen to those they lead,” he asserted.
He called on current leaders to remember that their power and authority are granted by the people and that it is their responsibility to heed the voices of their citizens. “Leaders must know that the power and authority they have is donated to them by the people. I therefore call for calm and for the leadership to show restraint and do the right thing by listening to the people and not be antagonistic to them,” Kenyatta said.
Stressing that violence is not the solution, Kenyatta urged for wisdom and civility in addressing the nation’s challenges. “Violence on either side is not the answer. As your former President, I have felt the weight and the difficulty of leading Kenya. I therefore pray for wisdom and civility to be established and for peace and progress to belong to all of us as children of Kenya,” he remarked.
Kenyatta called for dialogue, urging leaders to engage with the people rather than speaking at them. “Dear Kenyans, I stand with you and I ask our leadership to embrace dialogue and speak to the people and not at the people,” he implored.
In his concluding remarks, Kenyatta reminded Kenyans that their nation is greater than any individual and that no issue is insurmountable. “I pray for peace and understanding on the part of each and every Kenyan and for all of us to remember that Kenya is bigger than one of us; there is nothing cast in stone that cannot be changed. God bless Kenya,” he concluded.
Kenyatta’s appeal comes at a critical time as the country grapples with intense protests against the Finance Bill, which many fear will increase the financial burden on citizens.
