The Kikuyu Council of Elders (KEC) has criticised President William Ruto for failing to listen to the voice of the youth and has instead urged him to tolerate dissent. The elders condemned the "brutal and animalistic abductions and shedding of blood of young Kenyans" calling for restraint from leaders to calm the tension across the country. They also condemned the violence, looting and destruction witnessed during June 25 demonstrations against police brutality. Speaking on Saturday during a press briefing at the KEC Headquarters in Kiambu, the lobby's Secretary General James Nene said youth have a right to peacefully air their grievances through demonstrations and therefore should be heard. "Criticism is the reward for leadership, accept it honorably.
You have a vast educated, restless and tribeless youth under your watch.
Extend friendship to them since no amount of violent can stop their probing or desire for change," he said. KEC chairperson Wachira Kiago said "demonstrations are protected in the constitution," and that the youths are supposed to be heard and not met with violence. "It is sad to wake up and find young people being killed.
It is painful.
