RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR REFORMS IN CLIMATE FINANCING

Faith organizations under the banner Act alliance have this morning  in Nairobi called on the Kenyan government to act on climate change issues and ensure climate financing is addresed in a bid to  ensure marginalized communities don't suffer the effects of climate change.

Speaking during a press Bishop Warari has said frequent droughts and floods affect vulnerable in society among them farmers, women, children, marginalized community and people with disability a matter that must be addressed  by increasing funding to mitigate the effects.

The war against climate change must incorporate religious values therefore need for the church to voice it's reservations.The Bishop applauded government efforts,enhance climate resilience and adaptations but the Kenyan debt burden hinder the fight against climate change.

According to the religious leaders the fake fertilizer issued to famers during planting seasons will have huge impact to famers and environment a matter that the government should address.The leaders has issued a joint statement and called for action calling upon leaders to be accountable, ensure climate funds are utilized properly and  livelihoods  protected.marginalized groups, women,children should be priotised in the war to combat climate change.

The leaders have called on all actors to tailor climate change message and data so that it reaches grassroots calling on  reforms in global financing to fund adaptation and mitigation effects saying the current framework lack accountability therefore need to foster collaborations to promote inclusivity.

STATEMENT BY THE INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA (IDEA) ON THE GEN Z PROTESTS IN KENYA

MR. DENISE KODHE DIRECTOR GENERAL IDEA

The Institute for Development and Leadership in Africa has called on Human Rights activists, Civil Society organisations, Religious organizations and the media to continue agitating and advocating for the upholding and respect of human rights despite intimidation and harrassment by government state agencies.

According to Mr. Denise Kodhe Director General of IDEA, Kenya Kwanza government  should be reminded that days of dictatorship and intimidation of people and citizens agitating for their rights are long gone,As stated in the 2010 constitution, the government should be reminded that the Bill of Rights in the constitution is clearly stipulated and therefore it has responsibility not only to respect but to ensure that the citizens enjoy the rights without interference or intimidation by the state.

IDEA further castigates the kenyan government  for intimidating human rights crusaders and the media through arrests, abduction and torture for the frontliners agitating for their rights.It is really sad that the state used its security agencies to mercilessly disrupt peaceful protests in the country by citizens especially Gen.Z who were in the streets demanding for the dropping of punitive finance bill 2024/2025.What was witnessed in the country is a state massacre on it's own innocent citizens and more so children and youth.

The constitution of Kenya 2010  article 37 guarantees citizens right to picket and to protest without interference by the state.Police brutality witnessed in Kenya a few days ago which saw nearly forty people especially the youth and children been fell by police bullets through shooting should be condemned by the whole World.

Despite this great loss the government does not seem bothered to the extent that the Cabinet during their meeting at State-House yesterday praised the police for the good work.

There must be resistance to dictatorship and abuse of power by autocratic leaders in Africa for the continent to change.Such leaders should be reminded that intimidation,killings, and abduction of crusaders will not help them and therefore the best thing for them is to reform and understand that leadership is about leading people through proper governance and listening to their voice.

IDEA has called on the media to be allowed to do it work without intimidation, gaging and oppression of freedom of expression and information as enshrined in the 2010 constitution.

NCCK MEETS THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWING FINANCE BILL PROTESTS

Following weeks of anti finance bill protest dubbed occupy parliament which culminated to protesters breaking into parliament the National council of churches of Kenya NCCK meet the president in statehouse Nairobi and urged the president to withdraw the finance bill 2024.

Speaking in Limuru NCCK Secretary General Reverend Chris Kinyanjui told members of press that they had agreed with the president that KDF will not be deployed,police should cease brutality on protesters,no further blood shed and kenyans should be allowed to peacefully demonstrate and that the president should listen to youths and shape the nation desire.The church body has condoled with the families that lost their loved ones to police bullets and brutality commencing  seven days of mourning from Friday to Sunday July 7th.

Reverend Kinyanjui has called on the speaker of National assembly Moses Wetangula to convene a special sitting of the parliament to respond to the finance bill send back to parliament by the president.Members of parliament ignored the will of the people by passing the bill according to the Secretary General a move that has lead to nation wide protests,loss of life and property.

The NCCK has said it will convene a national conference on national finance and governance and establish youth lead centres of excellence to include the voice of the youths who account to seventy nine percent of kenyas population.