The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has appealed for calm, unity, and non-violence ahead of Wednesday’s Gen Z-led commemoration marking the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Commission acknowledged the emotional and historical weight the day carries for Kenya’s youth and called on all participants to honour it peacefully, in line with the country’s constitutional values.
“We urge all those participating to exercise their constitutional rights peaceably, as provided for by the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” read the statement. “The right to assemble, demonstrate, and petition must be exercised responsibly and safeguarded against any form of violence or incitement.”
NCIC emphasized the need for both demonstrators and security agencies to exercise restraint, urging the National Police Service (NPS) to avoid the use of excessive force and to prioritize the protection of life and dignity during the events.
“The protection of life and the upholding of human dignity must be the cornerstone of all security operations,” the statement said.
The call comes amid growing domestic and international concerns over police conduct during protests, with increasing reports of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the use of hired thugs to disrupt peaceful assemblies.
Earlier in the week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) also urged security agencies to act within the law, expressing alarm at what they described as the normalization of violence against unarmed protestors.
Additionally, a coalition of foreign embassies and high commissions in Kenya issued a joint statement condemning the use of “goons” to sabotage legitimate demonstrations, warning that such tactics undermine Kenya’s democratic principles and constitutional protections.
