• Uhuru on Wednesday said despite all the preventive measures his government has put in place, it is in order to acknowledge that Kenya as a country is nothing without God.
• Uhuru said his administration has learned over time that turning to God in such times gives the country not only comfort but also hope and strength to overcome even those challenges that seem insurmountable.
Image: PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta has made a proclamation, declaring this Saturday a national prayer day.
Uhuru on Tuesday said despite all the preventive measures his government has put in place, it is in order to acknowledge that Kenya as a country is nothing without God.
Uhuru said his administration has learnt over time that turning to God in such times gives the country not only comfort but also hope and strength to overcome even those challenges that seem insurmountable.
"With this in mind and after consulting a cross-section of ordinary Kenyans as well as our religious leaders, I have decided to declare this coming Saturday, 21st March 2020, as a National Day for Prayer," Uhuru said in a statement.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday confirmed a fourth person had tested positive for coronavirus.
"The latest case was confirmed today at our national influenza laboratory..the patient travelled from London, United Kingdom," Kagwe said on Tuesday.
Uhuru said the prayer day will be led by a team of religious leaders at State House, Nairobi starting at 12.00 noon.
"In consideration of the protocols that we announced on Sunday and other ongoing protocols that will be announced from time to time, I have thought it necessary that this day of prayer be observed in our homes, in our places of work or wherever we shall be residing on that day," he added.
The head of state said through the religious leaders, Kenya will be asking God for his forgiveness for anything that "we may have done wrong or wronged Him".
"On that day, we shall together ask for His protection and blessing for our Nation, for our people, for the world and all global citizens. We shall ask God to abide with us, and to guide us, both in this period and in times to come," he said.
Uhuru said he is guided by scripture from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians as read in the book of Philippians 4: 6 – 9.
The verse reads, "Do not worry about anything instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then, you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can ever understand. His peace will guide your hearts, your minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
“And now dear brothers and sisters, one final word, fix your thoughts on what is true and honourable, and what is right and pure, and what is lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting in practice all you have learnt and received from me, everything you have heard and saw me doing then the God of peace will be with you".
Uhuru said it is a reality the world today is facing a serious threat, brought about by a spreading pandemic that is affecting all peoples, all countries and institutions across the globe.
"In our own local context, we have done and continue to do everything possible to keep our citizens safe, and prevent further spread of the virus to our population while securing the continuity of business operations. Indeed as I said on Sunday, I and my Ministers will keep you regularly informed on developments as we move on into the future," he said.
He said even with these efforts, the country cannot ignore the need to turn to God.
"In these circumstances as we have done in the past as a nation, we have always turned to God first to give thanks for the many blessings that He has bestowed on our nation. But we also turn to God to share our fears, our apprehensions, but also to seek his guidance and ever-present protection," he said.
Uhuru added, "Let us join hands together on Saturday. Let us pray for our country. Let us pray for our unity. Let us pray to see this pandemic resolved and let us pledge to love one another, to live in peace and harmony with each other and let us pray that the world will once again refocus itself on those things that are good, on those things that are virtuous, on those things that are peaceful".