IRCK Vice Chairman Rev. Fr. Charles Kilonzo addresses journalists during a joint press briefing by the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) in Nairobi on June 23, 2026, where faith leaders called for justice, peace and accountability ahead of the June 25 Gen Z protests commemoration.
NAIROBI, June 23, 2026 — The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have called for justice, peace and accountability ahead of the June 25 commemoration of the 2024 Gen Z protests, urging Kenyans to embrace dialogue, restraint and national healing.
Speaking during a joint press briefing in Nairobi, IRCK Vice Chairman Rev. Fr. Charles Kilonzo said the anniversary should provide an opportunity for reflection and remembrance while reinforcing the country’s commitment to constitutionalism, justice and peaceful engagement.
“On this second anniversary, 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,” said Rev. Fr. Kilonzo.
The Council noted that the June 2024 protests marked a significant moment in Kenya’s democratic history as young people demanded accountability, economic justice and responsive leadership. However, the demonstrations also resulted in deaths, injuries, abductions and disappearances that continue to affect many families across the country.
According to the Council, at least 60 young Kenyans lost their lives during the protests, while more than 80 others were abducted and several remain missing.
The Council also recalled that at least 16 people were killed during the June 25, 2025 anniversary demonstrations.The religious leaders expressed solidarity with bereaved families and reiterated their commitment to advocating for truth, justice and accountability for all victims.
“Accountability and healing are not in opposition; they are companions on the road to national reconciliation,” said Rev. Fr. Kilonzo.
The Council welcomed the Government’s commitment to compensate families affected by the protests but urged relevant institutions to ensure the process is implemented transparently, promptly and with dignity.
The clergy further renewed their call for an independent and credible inquiry into all fatalities and disappearances linked to demonstrations since June 2024, saying accountability remains essential to restoring public trust.
“The families of the fallen deserve truth and closure. Every Kenyan is entitled to equal protection under the law, and public confidence can only be restored when justice is seen to be done,” said Rev. Fr. Kilonzo.
As the country prepares for the anniversary commemorations, the Council urged security agencies to exercise maximum restraint and avoid the use of excessive force against citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
The Council emphasized that Article 37 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to assemble, demonstrate and present petitions peacefully and called on all parties to uphold that right responsibly.
“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,” said the Council.
At the same time, the religious leaders appealed to members of the public, particularly young people, to mark the anniversary peacefully and with sobriety, noting that a dignified commemoration would honour the memory of those who lost their lives.
Beyond the anniversary events, the Council called on the Government, opposition leaders, civil society and other stakeholders to pursue genuine dialogue as a means of addressing the country’s economic, social and governance challenges.
The Council said constructive engagement remained the most effective avenue for resolving differences and building a more inclusive and responsive society.
“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,” said the Council.
The Council reaffirmed its readiness to facilitate dialogue among government, youth, civil society and political actors, noting that faith communities remain uniquely positioned to foster reconciliation and national cohesion.”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 Council said.
