Pastor compares defiant Gen Z to prodigal son, calls for reconciliation with Ruto
By Ascah Mwango, July 16, 2025A pastor has called on Kenyan youth to stop street protests and return to President William Ruto, comparing them to the prodigal son who strayed from home but eventually found his way back.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, during a meeting at State House, Nairobi, attended by bishops, pastors, and evangelists from the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya, the pastor said he came with a heavy heart because of what is happening in the country.
“I want to speak to the youth. I came here with a heavy heart, but I also have hope,” he said.
Adding;
“When I look at the ongoing chaos and protests in the streets, I see no future in that direction. If we continue this way, we are headed nowhere.”
The pastor said that while the frustrations of young people are valid, protests that lead to destruction are doing more harm than good.
“We should use our energy to build this country, not to burn and destroy it. Some of the businesses being vandalised may belong to our own parents. We need to reflect on this,” he said.
He warned that the youth have lost direction and are being used by politicians who do not care about their well-being.
“We, as the youth, have lost our way. But like the prodigal son, we can return to our father, President Ruto and he will receive us. We are the leaders of tomorrow. Let us stop being incited. Let us stop being used by people who leave us in trouble,” he expressed.
Protests, chaos and arrests
His comments come just over a week after the deadly Saba Saba protests that rocked the country on Monday, July 7. The demonstrations, led largely by young people, called for better governance, police accountability, and action on the high cost of living. They were met with a heavy police crackdown, leading to widespread violence.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 31 people were killed, 107 injured, and 532 arrested during the protests. Two people are still missing and are believed to have been abducted.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Commission condemned the violence and called for accountability.
“We strongly condemn all human rights violations and urge accountability from all responsible parties, including the police, civilians, and all stakeholders,” KNCHR said.
The Commission said it was concerned by the increasing use of force against peaceful protesters, adding that many human rights defenders and journalists were harassed, beaten, or abducted during the protests. In some cases, it said, plainclothes officers and criminal gangs worked together to suppress demonstrators.
Earlier in the month, the Commission had reported 10 deaths and 37 arrests across 17 counties, but the numbers have since risen significantly. The protests also disrupted daily life schools were shut down, businesses looted, and health services paralysed due to road blockages. In Kirinyaga, the Kerugoya CDF office was set on fire by angry demonstrators.
The police have also come under fire for defying a High Court order requiring officers to wear identifiable uniforms and name tags during operations. In many cases, victims say they were attacked by men in civilian clothes who refused to identify themselves.
KNCHR has demanded immediate investigations into all reported deaths, injuries, abductions, and destruction of property. The Commission reminded authorities that Article 37 of the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to peaceful protest and public assembly.