Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Timi Frank, has issued a strong condemnation of the recent killing of unarmed demonstrators in Kenya by security operatives.
Frank made his position known in a statement released on Tuesday, following reports by CNN that more than 11 individuals had lost their lives during the ongoing anti-government protests rocking Kenya.
The protests coincide with the 35th anniversary of the landmark Saba Saba movement, translated as “seven-seven”, which began on July 7, 1990, and ignited Kenya’s struggle for multi-party democracy.
Describing the violent response to the protests as inhumane and contrary to democratic principles, Frank urged Kenyan President William Ruto to immediately rein in the security agencies and put an end to the bloodshed.
“It is time to stop these avoidable murders,” Frank said, emphasizing the need for the government to abide by the rule of law in handling the demonstrations.
He further demanded the unconditional release of all protesters currently detained by the police and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families affected by the unrest.
“They would be remembered as those who died fighting for a better future for their country,” he said.
Frank also appealed to international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and the United Nations, to take urgent steps to intervene and caution President Ruto over what he described as authoritarian behavior.
“It is wrong to kill protesters. Instead of killing them, it is the duty of government to protect them,” he stated. “We saw recently when there was protest against Trump. They did not deploy the National Guard to kill the protesters but rather to protect them, and that is what democracy is all about.”