Wamuzi News Ke
A storm of emotion swept through the National Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, May 28, after an American pastor and former NFL star made a fiery plea that left jaws on the floor.
Rickey Allen Bolden, a respected faith leader and ex-NFL offensive lineman, issued a dramatic call for Kenyan politicians — including President William Ruto — to offer a national apology to the country’s youth, Gen Z, over last year’s harrowing wave of alleged abductions, killings, and internet blackouts.
In front of Kenya’s top political elite and visiting Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Bolden didn’t hold back.
“I pray our leaders would apologize to Gen Z for the fear, for the shutdown of the internet. They respect you, but they don’t feel respected,” he thundered from the podium, his voice echoing through the prayer-filled chamber.
But Bolden wasn’t done. In a moment that stunned the room, he said:
“Wouldn’t it be powerful if leaders stood up and told our Gen Zs, ‘Yes, we had you arrested, and yes, we know that was traumatizing — and we are truly sorry’?”
The emotional appeal struck a nerve, especially in the wake of last year’s youth-led protests against the controversial Finance Bill, which spiraled into violent nationwide clashes. Many of the young protesters were arrested under murky circumstances — some vanished without a trace, others were later found dead.
The protests marked a historic moment as Gen Z, armed with smartphones and social media, took to the streets — and the internet — to demand accountability. Their fury reached new heights when disturbing AI-generated images mocking President Ruto began circulating online. Not long after, reports of kidnappings and forced disappearances surfaced.
Though several abducted youth were eventually released, not all made it home alive. The chilling discoveries of their bodies sent shockwaves through the country and raised urgent human rights concerns.
President Ruto, who had previously downplayed the claims, appeared to backtrack during his recent public appearance with President Stubb — admitting the illegal detentions must stop.
The moment seemed to crack open the door for reflection and reconciliation.
Bolden, now a pastor in Dallas, Texas, is widely known for his powerful storytelling and message of healing and integrity. Before the pulpit, he was a gridiron warrior, once suiting up for the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins before a career-ending injury shifted his path toward ministry.
But on this day in Nairobi, Bolden wasn’t just preaching — he was demanding a moral reckoning.
And Kenya was listening.
