A section of religious leaders in Uasin Gishu County has faulted a decision by President William Ruto to host prayers at the State House in Nairobi.
Led by the Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop Dominic Kimengich, the clergy the prayers are a violation of the rights of many other Kenyans who do not subscribe to the Christian faith.
“Conducting public prayers in the state house meant for the country’s affairs which may exempt other religions in Kenya would be a great imbalance and violation of the right to worship for some Kenyans, ” said Bishop Kimengich.
Last Sunday, the state house played host to the prayers that were led by Evangelical churches.
Speaking during the prayers, First Lady Rachel Ruto said they will be hosting such events every month.
“The Bible says ‘People will go up to Jerusalem, year after year, to celebrate the feast of the tabernacles’, and I think that this is a place where people will come year after year for a thanksgiving. I want to tell the church that this is not the last service we are having, you will be coming here month after month to give thanks to the Lord for doing us good,” said the President’s wife.
But even as the first lady said the prayers will be held monthly at the state house, a section of Kenyans criticized the move.
“State House SHOULD not WEAPONIZE the church. And if they do so, they will ATTRACT God. He will SEND upon them PROPHETS and POETS of truth. Then Ruto will have to BEHEAD the prophets and CASTRATE the poets. God is independent. He is NOT a trusted Political WEAPON. He has SURPRISES,” controversial political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi tweeted on September 26, 2022.
Ebola outbreak
On the issues of the Ebola outbreak that has rocked neighbouring Uganda, the Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop urged the government to lay down measures that will ensure the disease does not spread into the country.
“I am calling upon the government`s intervention in the prevention of the Ebola epidemic’s prevalence in our country through testing migrants from Uganda to make sure their status is known,” said Bishop Kimengich.
