- Ruto occupied a distant table with speakers Kenneth Lusaka and Justin Muturi.
- The two were no longer seeing to eye to eye.
Image: COURTESY
President William Ruto is today the chief guest during this year's national prayer breakfast
The annual prayer session being organised by Parliament is Ruto’s first since he assumed office in September last year.
The last event presided over by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta on May 26, 2022, was attended by leaders from across the political divides.
But, as he makes a return to the venue, Ruto will be reminded of the incident that played out during that last meeting.
Ruto was sidelined following the frosty relationship with Uhuru.
The bad blood that had existed between the two leaders (Uhuru and Ruto) was openly displayed.
Despite calls for unity that dominated the prayers with religious leaders urging the two leaders to tone down their political differences as the country prepared for the general election which was only two months away, the calls seemed to fall on deaf ears.
The two were no longer seeing eye to eye, Uhuru having publicly endorsed Raila Odinga as his preferred presidential candidate.
As Uhuru shared his table with Chief Justice Martha Koome and former Attorney General Paul Kihara, Ruto occupied a distant table with speakers Kenneth Lusaka and Justin Muturi.
He was at one point captured singing along to Ruben Kigame's song 'huniachi' while tapping the table.
Ruto is expected to use the meeting to preach a message of unity and extend his call to Azimio leaders to work with him.
The Opposition has announced they will skip today’s occasion themed ‘Reconciliation’ even despite receiving the invitation.
"The event will dishonour God and country with a display of arrogance, superiority battles, false hopes to citizens and vitriolic post-event mischaracterization and misinterpretation of intentions by well-known Kenya Kwanza leaders. We have therefore declined the invitation to the breakfast," Azimio said in a statement.
"If past events where we have shared platforms with Kenya Kwanza are to serve as a guide, Azimio is convinced that the National Prayer Breakfast does not offer the environment the country needs for humility before God, honesty with citizens and respect between leaders".
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula said they are deliberate on uniting the country to be at total peace with itself.
“Reconciliation is not an easy task as it invites us to look inward and accept our shortcomings,” he said.