President William Ruto is leading the nation in marking the 22nd edition of the National Prayer Breakfast at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, where calls for unity, forgiveness, and national healing have taken centre stage.
Wetang'ula's appeal to clergy
In a ceremony graced by leaders across political and religious divides, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who serves as co-patron of the annual event, made a passionate appeal to the clergy and spiritual leaders across Kenya to be unwavering symbols of peace and reconciliation.
“Preach forgiveness, promote unity, and proclaim hope for our country,” Mr. Wetang’ula urged, emphasising that the National Prayer Breakfast is more than a symbolic event; it is a sacred call to transcend self-interest and recommit the nation’s leadership to Godly service.
The event came amid rising political tensions and claims of the re-emergence of dark Kanu past under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Facing political tensions
Describing the prayer event as a moment of national reflection and renewal, Mr Wetang’ula challenged Kenyans to embrace values that unite rather than divide.
“This national prayer breakfast is not just an important gathering,” he said, “but a clarion call to rise above self-interest, to rebuild our nation with the stones of love and integrity, and to re-anchor our leadership in Godly service.”
Turning his attention to President Ruto, the Speaker encouraged him to stay steadfast in the face of criticism and political attacks.
He drew inspiration from Scripture, quoting Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”
“God never said that weapons would not be formed,” he added. “Rather, He said that the weapons, though formed, will not prosper. They will always be formed, but they will not succeed.”
He lauded the Head of State’s focus on long-term national transformation and urged him to keep his eyes on the bigger picture, reminding the nation that great leaders endure storms with vision and resolve.
“I urge Kenyans not to suffer from unhelpful amnesia,” he warned, suggesting that forgetting the progress made and lessons learned from past challenges could jeopardise national cohesion.
To lighten the tone while driving home the need for collective memory and mindfulness, The Speaker shared a humorous anecdote.
“Let me give you a little joke,” he began. “A man who was unwell walked into a doctor’s office and said, ‘Doctor, I have a very serious problem.’ The doctor asked, ‘What problem?’ The man replied, ‘Every time I think of something or do something, I forget it almost immediately.’ The doctor then asked, ‘When exactly did this problem start?’ And the man said, ‘Which problem?’”
The laughter that followed did not drown out the deeper message: a plea for Kenyans not to forget their shared responsibilities, values, and aspirations.
As the country navigates social, economic, and political turbulence, this year’s prayer breakfast reaffirmed the importance of unity and faith in charting a path forward — together.
President Ruto, his deputy Prof Kithure Kindiki, Chief Justice Martha Koome, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Nairobi Governor among other dignitaries from across the globe are attending the fete.
