Former Mukurweini Member of Parliament Kabando wa Kabando has criticized the Kenya Kwanza administration over national prayers held at the Nyayo stadium in Nairobi on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua led Kenyans in the prayers seeking God’s intervention to deal with the country’s drought and hunger situation.

But Kabando, in a tweet on Tuesday evening, dismissed the event as a “waste”.

He claimed that Kenyans who graced the event were hired, uniformed and ferried to the city by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party at a time when the country is battling the worst drought in 40 years.

While accusing the Head of State of promoting theocracy, the politician alleged that the forum was partisan as only UDA allies graced the event. He insisted that the Kenya Kwanza administration must be called to order.

“Kenya is a secular state. Yes, the Constitution recognises sanctity and belief in Almighty God. But Kenya is not a theocracy. Today’s Nyayo gathering was of UDA loyalties ‘praise & worship’. Amidst famine, drought, and banditry: Hired, uniformed, ferried crowds. Sinful. Waste,” he said.

“We sovereigns must call the bluff if/when the government strays. Arbitrarily convening so-called national prayers, that is, in fact, a partisan forum with some, NOT all, denominations is wrong. As in Nakuru, public institutions’ buses are being misused to ferry UDA sycophants.”

Kenya is a secular state. Yes, the Constitution recognises sanctity and belief in Almighty God. But Kenya is not a theocracy. Today’s Nyayo gathering was of UDA loyalties ‘praise & worship’. Amidst famine, drought, and banditry: HIRED, UNIFORMED, FERRIED CROWDS. Sinful. Waste.

— Kabando Wa Kabando (@Wakabando) February 14, 2023

In his speech at Nyayo stadium yesterday, Ruto praised the church for taking “its place” in the leadership of Kenya.

The UDA party leader said the church had taken a back seat in the running of the country.

“Leo nitalala mapema na nitaamka kesho kuchelewa na nitalala na viatu because I’m a very proud Kenyan that our nation, especially the body of Jesus Christ in Kenya has woken up.

“I am very proud that the church has rediscovered its place in the governance of Kenya,” he said.

He had earlier called on Kenyans to turn up at Nyayo stadium to pray for rain as drought continues to ravage more than 23 counties.

“We pray for the current situation. We don’t want any more Kenyans to die because of drought. We will pray for rain.

“We have a lot of interventions like the construction of dams and the distribution of fertilisers but all these will not be possible if we don’t have rain,” Ruto said during a church service in Nakuru on Sunday, February 12.