As Kenya prepares for the upcoming general election, President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged all Kenyans to be peace and unity ambassadors.
The President highlighted that the fast-paced nature of politics must not cause the country to lose sight of its mission of nation-building.
“…but even as we prepare for the impending competition later this month, we recognize that the work of constructing a nation is one that is passed down from generation to generation.” As a result, decades and generations of leaders are expected to carry the baton intact, and I want to do so.
“Mine is to wish you all peace. Mine is to wish that we will end up much more united and stronger after this election than ever before and to wish each and every person who is vying the very best of luck, knowing that there will only be one winner and our prayer is that we shall accept and be able to move forward,” the President said.
President Kenyatta spoke on Thursday in Nairobi when he led the country in praying for the nation during the 19th edition of the National Annual Prayer Breakfast themed “transitions”.
Noting that for 19 years the national prayer breakfast has brought Kenyans together in humility and thanksgiving as children of God, the President asked the nation to once again affirm the power of togetherness and unity regardless of political and religious alignment.
“My earnest prayer is that the unity of purpose and our shared humanity on display today will endure in every aspect of our lives, going forward,” President Kenyatta said.
The Head of State thanked God for giving Kenyans the grace to endure and to turn some of the challenges facing the country into opportunities.
“Our prayers, more so during the Covid-19 cycle, brought us together and in the process, countless lives were saved,” the Head of State pointed out.
Deputy President William Ruto gave an assurance that together with his team, they will do everything possible within their power to make ensure that the elections are peaceful.
“…I believe that whoever will be elected it will be the will of God and we will respect the will of God as expressed by the will of the people of Kenya,” the Deputy President said.
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential running mate Martha Karua called on politicians to match their words with actions to ensure that the country remains peaceful and united before, during and after the election.
Religious leaders including Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria and Evangelical Association of Kenya Bishop David Oginde preached the need for Kenyans, especially politicians, to shun hatred and instead embrace peace, love and national unity.
Bishop Oginde particularly appealed to Kenyans not to make elections a ‘do or die affair’ but a simple transition time when the country moves from one leadership to another as it happens in other nations.
“We can vote in peace and go back to our businesses to wait for results. We can receive the results in peace and continue with our daily lives.
“But for this to happen, we must be ready to shift our mindset and understand the purpose and meaning of elections. We must temper our expectations with the sober reality that in any contest, there will always be those who succeed and there are those who may not succeed,” Bishop Oginde said.
Other speakers included Chief Justice Martha Koome, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Kenneth Lusaka, the National Prayer Breakfast Organizing Committee co-chair Samuel Poghisio (Senate) and Daniel Maanzo (National Assembly).
