Faith Leaders Call for Justice, Peace and National Healing Ahead of Second Anniversary of Gen Z Protests

By Gedion Nzyoki -

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 23, 2026 — The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) has called for justice, accountability, peaceful commemoration, and genuine national dialogue as the country prepares to mark the second anniversary of the June 25, 2024 Gen Z protests, which left dozens of young Kenyans dead, injured, abducted, or missing.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, led by Reverend Father Charles Kilonzo of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Rev. Kepha Nyandega of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), and other religious leaders, the faith-based umbrella body described the protests and their aftermath as one of the most painful chapters in Kenya's recent history.

The council urged the nation not to forget those who lost their lives while exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

According to the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, data from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) indicates that at least 60 young Kenyans were killed during the June 2024 demonstrations, while more than 80 others were reportedly abducted. Many more were injured or remain unaccounted for.

"These were not strangers. They were our children, our students, our neighbours, our parishioners and worshippers — sons and daughters whose futures were cut short while exercising a constitutional right," the council stated.

Remembering the Fallen

IRCK said the anniversary presents an opportunity for the nation to honour both the identified victims and those whose deaths may never have been officially documented.

The council also remembered those who lost their lives during the June 25, 2025 anniversary demonstrations, noting that at least 16 people were reportedly killed during last year's commemorations.

"We stand together as one voice to remember the fallen, to stand with the bereaved, and to call our nation to the path of truth, justice, and enduring peace," the council said.

The faith leaders pledged continued support to affected families and vowed to ensure that the memories of the victims are not lost to political expediency or public indifference.

Call for Accountability and Truth

The religious leaders emphasized that although two years have passed since the 2024 protests, the journey toward justice and national healing remains unfinished.

IRCK called for thorough, impartial, and transparent accountability processes for all those who were killed, injured, or disappeared during the demonstrations.

"Accountability and healing are not in opposition; they are companions on the road to national reconciliation," the council said.

The council welcomed the government's commitment to compensate families affected by the protests, describing the move as an important step toward restorative justice. However, it urged authorities to ensure that the compensation process is implemented swiftly, transparently, and with dignity.

The faith leaders also renewed calls for a credible and independent inquiry into all fatalities and disappearances linked to demonstrations since June 2024.

"The families of the fallen deserve truth and closure," the council stated.

The leaders further urged institutions responsible for governance and justice to strengthen the rule of law and uphold equal protection for all citizens.

Appeal for Peaceful Commemoration

Ahead of the June 25 anniversary activities, IRCK appealed to demonstrators, organizers, and security agencies to exercise restraint and uphold peace.

The council cited Article 37 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions peacefully.

"We call upon the National Police Service and all security agencies to fulfil their constitutional mandate of protecting all citizens, including those peacefully commemorating the day," the faith leaders said.

The religious leaders encouraged Kenyans planning to participate in memorial activities, including prayers, vigils, and flower-laying ceremonies, to do so peacefully and with dignity.

According to IRCK, the most fitting tribute to those who lost their lives would be a commemoration that reflects national maturity, unity, and a collective commitment to healing.

Push for National Dialogue

The council also used the anniversary to renew calls for inclusive dialogue involving the government, young people, civil society, the private sector, and faith communities.

IRCK argued that sustainable peace can only be achieved through responsive governance, expanded economic opportunities, and meaningful engagement with citizens' concerns.

"The young Kenyans who expressed their concerns in 2024 did so out of love for this country, and their voices deserve to be heard and valued through appropriate channels of engagement," the council said.

The council reaffirmed its readiness to facilitate dialogue among various stakeholders, noting that faith communities are uniquely positioned to bridge divides because of their presence at the grassroots level across the country.

Healing Through Humility

Concluding its statement, IRCK said Kenya's path to healing requires humility, truth-telling, accountability, and a willingness to acknowledge wrongdoing.

The council maintained that the country can overcome the divisions and pain associated with the protests if all stakeholders commit themselves to justice, remembrance, reconciliation, and national renewal.

"Kenya can heal. Kenya must heal. Healing will come through truth honoured, through lives remembered with dignity, and through a spirit of goodwill renewed between government, citizens, and all the peoples of this great nation," the leaders said.

The council reaffirmed its commitment to remaining an independent and non-partisan voice advocating for peace, justice, human dignity, and the sanctity of life for all Kenyans.