Uhuru to lead National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday

Blindspots

Member
Uhuru to lead National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday
National Prayer Breakfast meetings provide an opportunity for political and religious leaders to push their agendas.

• Last year’s prayer was held at State House, barely days after the country reported the first case of coronavirus.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to lead this year’s National Prayer Breakfast at Parliament Buildings on Thursday.
unnamed.jpg

A brief of the event shows the President will be joined by various leaders from the three arms of government and the business sector.
Top commercial lawyer Peter Waiyaki will deliver the keynote address at the event, which will be conducted within the Covid-19 guidelines.
President Kenyatta is also expected to give a speech. This is the 18th meeting since the advent of the National Prayer Breakfast.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who is co-patron of the committee, will also deliver a message at the meeting.

Last year’s prayer was held at State House, barely days after the country reported the first case of coronavirus.

This year’s prayer, according to the programme by the Kenya National Prayer Breakfast Committee seen by the Star, is themed: “A Hopeful Future”.

The event will be co-chaired by West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio and Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo – who is positioned to take over from former Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange. Koinange died in March.

Members will observe a minute of silence for the departed lawmaker.

Entrepreneur David Nene Kalinga of Capital Colours Creative design is scheduled to make the opening prayer at the meeting.

Former Auditor General Edward Ouko is listed among the key speakers and will give his views on why leaders should pray.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, the programme shows, will speak on the country’s state of healthcare and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Busia Senator Amos Wako is lined up to give an account of his bruising battle with the virus. He once said the disease made him feel like he had one foot in the grave.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka will make prayers for the world while Federation of Kenya Employers boss Jacqueline Mugo will pray for the country.

Senate Deputy Speaker Margaret Kamar and Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi are also queued for major roles at the meeting.

Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka will read the Bible for the national leadership segment, and prayers under the same by nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga.
Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu will lead prayers after the teaching by former auditor Ouko, while Dr Isaac Kalua will offer the closing prayer.

Kenyatta University Muslim Chaplain Sheik Abdullah Bundid is scheduled to read the Holy Quran.

National Prayer Breakfast meetings usually provide an opportunity for political and religious leaders to push their agendas.

This year's meeting comes in the wake of the uncertain future of President Kenyatta and ODM boss Raila Odinga-led Building Bridges Initiative.

BBI, hailed as the panacea to the country's endless cycle of divisive elections, was stopped by the High Court. The promoters seek to appeal.

Also of concern is the harsh economic times posed by the pandemic.

Raila, Deputy President William Ruto and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi are expected to attend.

President Kenyatta, in the last prayer meeting, restated the importance of coming together to pray as a nation.

He asked Kenyans to pray for the country, for peace, unity, healing, reconciliation and understanding and to pray for abundance.

The 2019 meeting was held at Safari Park and was graced by South Sudan President Salva Kiir. Dozens of political leaders, workers union, and business leaders attended.

At the time, the President asked the leaders to put into practice the good things they say in respect of the call for peace, unity, and nation-building.

Ruto at the time said prayer breakfasts were special moments for the country, restating calls for Kenyans to rid the country of theft, wastage and corruption.

“Theft and corruption are bad in any language. In my mother tongue, we say; a thief may be intelligent but not more than the investigator.”

The DP used the event to call for support of the informal business sector, which has metamorphosised to the Hustler Movement.

“This nation does not belong to the elite alone. It belongs to the 45 million plus Kenyans,” the DP told the gathering.
 
Top