Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Deputy President William Ruto has asked God to allow his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, to retire from politics in peace. The DP made his remark during this year’s National Prayer Breakfast.

The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual ecumenical event offered under the auspices of the Co-Patrons, the Speaker of the Senate and the National Assembly.

The 19th edition of the annual National Prayer Breakfast was held at Safari Park hotel in Nairobi on Thursday, May 26, 2022.

The purpose of the National Prayer Breakfast is to meet, engage, interact and together pray for the nation in the company of fellow leaders from all sectors of society.

Ruto insists prayers are important

Even though politicians were asked to keep their speeches about prayers only, Deputy President William Ruto sneaked in politics into his prayers.

The DP started his speech by recognising the importance of the National Prayer Breakfast and noted that a country that prays together stays together cohesively.

“The bible tells us that a house that prays together stays together, when we come to pray together as a nation it reminds us that we are one people, we are one nation under God despite whatever different opinions we might hold,” Ruto said.

Ruto takes a dig at Uhuru

The country’s second in command however took a subliminal shot at his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta saying that he should retire in peace.

Ruto stated that one of his prayer requests for that day was that God grants Uhuru peaceful retirement after the August 9, 2022, general election.

“My friend President Uhuru Kenyatta as you head to retirement, it’s my prayer that God will give you every aspiration of your heart. And make it possible for you to enjoy the legacy that you have built and to enjoy a bit of the time God will give you. That’s my prayer,” Ruto said.

Politicians allied to Ruto have been calling on Uhuru to retire warning him against engaging in politics after he publicly endorsed Raila Odinga as his preferred successor.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is the chairperson of a top decision-making organ of the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition party. Raila, who is running on the party’s ticket in the August 9 presidential election, is the party leader.

The Raila/Uhuru coalition, which brings together over 20 political parties, is governed by two organs – the Coalition Council and National Coalition Executive Council (NCEC).

Ruto and his team have castigated Uhuru multiple times for engaging in politics when he should be retiring, which explains the DP’s prayer request at Safari Park Hotel.

Being a cunning politician, Ruto concluded his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast by asking for forgiveness to Kenyans in general and to President Uhuru in particular for the misunderstanding they had for the time they have worked together to lead the nation.

“We have failed you in some areas, we have not been united as we should have been. We ask for forgiveness. And specifically myself I ask for your forgiveness. I also know that while serving as deputy president I might have fallen short of the expectations of my boss his Excellency the President, my good friend, I ask for your forgiveness,” Ruto said.