Former Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during recent clashes between police and protesters over a tax increase.
Kenyatta made these remarks in response to reports of people killed during the protest on Tuesday.
At least five people were killed on Tuesday during street protests in Kenya’s capital, where police opened fire on demonstrators opposing a new tax proposal.
Human rights groups reported that thousands of protesters had stormed Kenya’s Parliament, even setting part of it on fire.
The Kenya Medical Association and several NGOs issued a statement confirming the violence resulted in five deaths and 31 injuries.
In a statement personally signed and released on Tuesday, Kenyatta emphasized that Kenyan citizens have the constitutional right to express their dissatisfaction through protests.
Kenyatta, who was the Kenya fourth president, highlighted that the right to protest is enshrined in the country’s 2010 constitution and reminded current leaders of their duty to listen to the people who elected them.
He urged the leaders to adhere to the principles of democracy and governance as outlined in the constitution.
While calling for peace and restraint, the former president noted that violence is not a solution to the ongoing issues.
“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. 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.
“At this trying time for our Country, I want to remind all leaders that they were elected by the people. Listening to the people is not a choice but a mandate enshrined in the principles of our constitution and in the very basis and philosophy of democracy
“Leaders must know that power and authority they have is donated to them by the people answer.
“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. 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.
“Dear Kenyans, I stand with you and I ask our leadership to embrace dialogue and SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE AND NOT.AT THE PEOPLE.
“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,” Kenyatta said in the statement.
