New details have emerged about the dramatic events at Nairobi's All Saints Cathedral during Tuesday's protests, revealing a harrowing account of police aggression against peaceful demonstrators seeking refuge and medics offering aid.
Brandishing a spent bullet casing as damning evidence, Rev. Canon Evans Omollo, Provost of All Saints Cathedral, disclosed on Thursday that the church became a sanctuary for over 3,000 protestors fleeing escalating clashes with law enforcement near Nairobi's CBD.
"As a pastor, I shouldn't be angry, but on Tuesday, my anger flared," Rev. Omollo declared, holding a spent bullet fired inside the cathedral amidst the chaos. "We pleaded with the police for six hours," he continued, describing frantic efforts to prevent violence against the young protestors sheltering at the cathedral. "I created a buffer with my colleagues," he recalled, "but when the police arrived, everything changed. They drove into the church, shooting indiscriminately into the air, walls, and floor while people lay flat in fear."
The violence at All Saints Cathedral unfolded amid broader protests across Nairobi, culminating in a dramatic breach of the parliament buildings. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi was among those evacuated as protestors stormed the complex, with dramatic scenes of MPs being carried out by ambulances and helicopters from the adjacent KICC.
The provost's impassioned plea extended beyond condemnation, demanding accountability from Kenya's Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome. "The IG must apologize to the church and to the nation," Rev. Omollo insisted, emphasizing the need for justice amidst the chaos that left many injured and traumatized. "There's blood on their hands," he asserted, referring to the casualties among peaceful demonstrators. "We cannot move forward while ignoring this injustice," he added, announcing plans for a memorial service to honor the lives lost.
The cathedral, a historic site near the Serena Hotel, became a focal point of the clashes between demonstrators and security forces amid broader protests across Nairobi against proposed tax hikes.
President William Ruto yielded to public pressure on Wednesday, June 26, withdrawing the proposed tax hikes following nationwide demonstrations. The decision marks a significant victory for the week-long protest movement, initially sparked by online dissent over economic policies.
"Listening to the people of Kenya, I concede," President Ruto declared in a televised address, flanked by lawmakers. "I will not sign the finance bill for 2024," he affirmed, acknowledging the gravity of the protests that have shaken his presidency.