CITAM Bishop praises Gen Zs following anti-Finance Bill protests
3 min read
The Presiding Bishop of CITAM church, Calisto Odede Praises Gen Zs after anti-Finance Bill protests across the country
The Presiding Bishop of CITAM church, Calisto Odede Praises Gen Zs after anti-Finance Bill protests across the country.
Christ is the Answer Ministries (CITAM) in a statement announced its support for the ongoing demonstrations against punitive taxes imposed on Kenyans.
In a statement dated June 29 from the Presiding Bishop Calisto Odede, CITAM praised Gen Z for their courage and bravery in rejecting the punitive policies introduced by the government.
“The courage, the passion, and the focus of Genz Zs over the last week truly shows that our country, Kenya has a future with champions of integrity and accountability as we have seen. We pray that this goodwill is not hijacked by criminals and others with ill intention who would besmirch the character of Gen Zs,” Odede remarked.
The church also acknowledged that young Kenyans had pointed out the clergy’s gaps in positively influencing the government’s decisions. He added that the church had listened to the young Kenyans’ call to stop politics in church.
“We do want to appreciate and applaud Gen Zs for their engagement with issues of national interest and particularly the double focus that we noted: on the one hand they mobilised protests against unfair tax regimes in a legal manner that was political and devoid of ethnic innuendoes and on the other hand they pricked the conscience of the church to purge the pulpits of our churches from undue influence by politics and politicians.”
“Indeed they truly showed us that as the clergy we should not politicise Christianity and neither should we Christianise politics. We the clergy have certainly listened to your prophetic call,” read part of the statement.
Standard Group given a 14-day ultimatum to pay Journalists their salary arrears
CNN journalist Larry Madowo responds after being sent threatening messages
Kenyans to lose their land to the government if Parliament passes the new Land Amendment Bill
Man at the centre of a BBC expose on sex scandal in tea sector elected as KTDA director
Earlier, young Kenyans had called upon the church to not condone politicians taking their agendas before the pulpits every Sunday. In the action dubbed #OccupyChurches, Kenyans vowed to ensure no politician is allowed to speak at church pulpits.
Last Sunday, in several churches young Kenyans stood up to push the church to support their opposition to the current administration. Some politicians were denied an opportunity to speak.
Additionally, the church has lauded President William Ruto for withdrawing the controversial Finance Bill, 2024. Odede also welcomed Ruto’s plan to engage young Kenyans in talks.
The church was also in favour of Ruto’s austerity measures to ensure the government reduces unnecessary expenditures.
“We pray that this will be extended to other areas as well as so at ease the heavy tax burden Kenyans are bearing. We hope that the wisdom of Nehemiah who deescalated a similar taxation situation by instituting austerity measures would also be put in place,” read part of the statement.
Conclusively, the church called for peace and urged police officers not to harass any protesters exercising their Constitutional rights. The government was also asked to reconsider the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Also read,
Defence CS Duale alleges officials from the Uhuru government infiltrated Gen Z protests
Raila visits ailing retired Archbishop who facilitated his escape into exile
Protesters who burnt Parliament to be hunted down; Ruto
Ruto’s multi-sectoral approach to solve Gen Z issues will be a waste of time; Wamuchomba
Miguna Miguna accuses NIS agents of threatening with abduction and deportation
Millicent Omanga forced to respond on her Ksh 40m Range Rover car and Ksh 1b State House tender
Follow us
