Embrace peace as you vote, Ruto urges Kenyans

Deputy President William Ruto has asked Kenyans to embrace peace as they go to cast their votes in Tuesday’s poll. 

Ruto, who is seeking to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, called on Kenyans to be peacemakers as they elect their leaders.

Quoting the Book of Mathew 5:9, Ruto said Kenyans should remember that “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

“I want to ask all Kenyans, wherever they are and whatever they do, to be peacemakers,” he said. 

Ruto spoke while addressing faithfuls at Jesus Teaching Ministry in Kayole, Nairobi.

He called on Kenyans to be optimistic of a better country.

“You should be optimistic that the country will be a better nation for all of us. It is only hours to the election,” Ruto said.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said Tuesday’s election will be the moment of truth for Kenyans.

“It is time to make that decision. Let us not run away from that responsibility.

"Let us all step forward, put our best foot forward and vote so that we can get the right leaders for our country,” he said.

Mudavadi urged Kenyans to commit to a peaceful election as they chose their leaders.

“Let us all commit to peace. We have committed to peace through our leader William Ruto and we ask all Kenyans to commit to peace as they cast their vote

"All shall be well and God will guide us to that next level,” he said.  

With them were Nairobi UDA governor candidate Johnson Sakaja and his woman rep counterpart Millicent Omanga.

Kenyans will go to the ballot to elect the president, 47 governors, 47 senators, 47 woman representatives, 290 members of Parliament and 1,450 county assembly members.

Ruto thanked religious leaders for praying for the country during the electioneering period. “We are where we are as a nation because of prayers.”

He said those who know the Almighty God will be courageous and they will do wonders.

The Deputy President said his Kenya Kwanza team has gone through many challenges in its endeavor to take up the leadership of the country.

“We have been strong. We have gone through so many challenges over the years. There are those who said we would not get to 2022.

"There are others who said it would be this and not that. They said there is deep state and system but we have come this far because of our trust in God,” he said.

The phrase 'deep state' has been used to suggest a behind-the-scenes involvement of the state in the 2022 election.

Ruto further drummed up support for his bottom-up economic model quoting the Book of Psalms 113: 8, which says God raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honour.

He also asked Kenyans to remember the Book of Ephesians 5:18, which says “do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the spirit.”

The Deputy President appealed to voters to come out in large numbers and pick their representatives.

Mudavadi said he is hopeful that the election will give Kenyans the desired change. 

“I have been talking of an earthquake. Pray for us so that Tuesday can truly become a positive earthquake as we go to the next level,” he said.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)