President William Ruto used this year’s National Prayer Breakfast platform to issue an apology to the country’s Gen Z, signalling a conciliatory approach ahead of the 2027 elections.
The country’s youths are expected to form more than half of the voters in the 2027 polls, with political camps already fighting for their attention.
Speaking at the event held at the Safari Park Hotel, the President emphasised the importance of unity, stating, “Where there is unity, God commands a blessing.”
“To our children, if there has been any misstep, we apologise,” the President told the country’s young people, popularly known as Gen Z, who have been a thorn in the flesh of his administration.
This marked the first time the President publicly apologised to the youth, following a year of tensions between his government and both Gen Z and Millennials.
In 2024, Gen Z spearheaded massive protests that culminated in the storming of Parliament, demanding radical reforms within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
They were also protesting the Finance Bill, 2024, which introduced a wave of additional taxes, claiming new levies were punitive.
In response,
President Ruto later dissolved his Cabinet and formed a broad-based government
that included opposition leaders to stabilise the country.
Since then, his administration has faced mounting pressure to meaningfully include youth in decision-making processes.
During the prayer breakfast, the President also urged Kenyans to live in harmony despite their political differences, emphasising the need to build a united and peaceful nation.
Quoting extensively from the Book of Psalms 133, Ruto said: “The Word of God tells us how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to live together in unity.”
“It is in God’s perfect will and plan for us to live together in unity — across political divides, across our communities, and across our religious differences,” he added, appealing to Kenyans to duel in peace.
The President's remarks come at a time when there are heightened tensions as politicians embark on early 2027 campaigns.
