President William Ruto spoke at his first National Prayer Breakfast about how he was an outsider in the previous government, where he served as Deputy President, and how the tables turned after the elections.
Ruto made fun of his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, by recalling asking his boss for forgiveness at the 2022 prayer breakfast, which was held months before the General Election.
“I remember the last prayer breakfast here was around the same. I remember asking for forgiveness from my friend the former president. It is interesting that today we are again discussing the subject of forgiveness and reconciliation,” Ruto said.
The Head of State spoke about the change in fortunes following the General Election, describing the previous election as closely contested.
“It only happens in Kenya that in our last election, the opposition leader became the government candidate, and the sitting deputy president became the opposition, candidate,” he said.
Ruto went on to mock Kenyatta’s preferred candidate Raila Odinga, effectively turning the then-president into an opposition leader.
“The opposition candidate won the election and the sitting president then handed over power to his deputy. And went ahead to become the leader of the opposition party. That only happens in Kenya,” Ruto said.
According to Ruto, the 2022 General Election was also a watershed moment for Kenya, as contesting parties disagreed and agreed on critical issues, but most importantly, it was peaceful.
“The ethnic configuration that always informed our politics was not there. We had both sides presenting a national face in their formation,” he added.
Talks of President William Ruto’s strained relationship with his predecessor took centre stage in the Prayer Breakfast aimed at reconciling Kenyans.
“The last prayer breakfast here was a very toxic affair full of tension and hatred. The President (Ruto) could not sit at the same table with his boss,” Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua remarked, applauding his boss for embracing forgiveness.
“Many of us who work around him have great difficulties with that approach but along the way, he has persuaded us that reconciliation is the way to go for the betterment of this country.”
