Avoid Excessive Force While Handling Protesters, Priest Asks Police

Father Peter Kimani has urged the police to exercise restraint when handling youth known as Gen Z's during protests.Kimani, who is a chaplain for the security forces, said police officers should ensure they do not respond to protesting youths in a manner that degenerates into lawlessness.Speaking during the Southern Nyanza prayer service for uniformed officers at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Homa Bay, Kimani also urged protesters to be peaceful and avoid provoking police officers.The cleric noted that the responsibility of containing Gen Z's also lies with parents.He said parents have a responsibility to talk to their children about some of the consequences of their actions.Ft. Kimani said aggrieved youths should listen to what their parents and elders tell them.'It's wrong for youths to leave their homes to go and destroy the property of other people when protesting,' Father Kimani said.He said that the fact that the law allows Kenyans to picket or demonstrate should not be used to cause lawle ssness.The clergyman told Kenyan youths to only participate in protests over issues that were reasonable.'Let everyone be accountable for what they do. Kenyans should start correcting themselves before they engage in street protests,' Fr. Kimani said.The prayer service was held for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Critical Infrastructure Police Unit (CIPU), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and National Youth Service (NYS).Homa Bay Deputy County Commissioner Charles Mwayaya said that the government should be accorded adequate time to deal with the issues raised by protesters.The administrator called on the church to advocate for peace in the county.Source: Kenya News Agency