On Sunday, September 25, Kenya’s President William Ruto held a special thanksgiving service at the State House.
The service which was held two weeks after he officially took over the House on the hill from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, September 13, brought together over 40 pastors.
Ruto, Kenya’s first evangelical-leaning president, who during his campaign supported churches through various fundraisers asked the men of the cloth to remain behind and “cleanse” the white-walled seat of power before leaving.
“After this service, there is a part two which may not be as organized as the first session. We will ask 30 or 40 of our senior clergy to pray over this building and this residence, and the offices so that God can give us solutions for this country.
“Do not leave after lunch, speak award of blessing on this grounds and around this compound, even on the farm, everywhere! Those who can speak in tongues please do so, so that it is known that the new tenants have arrived,” President William Ruto stated.
Ruto who jetted back into the country from New York, US, where he addressed the 77th United Nations General Assembly and met President Joe Biden at the sidelines made three special prayer requests to the clergy present.
The Head of State asked the clerics to beseech God on his behalf that peace prevailed in the country.
The immediate former deputy president also requested that those charged with maintaining peace within and without the country are remembered.
This was after reports emerged that bandits had killed more than ten people in Turkana County including eight police officers, a chief, and civilians.
“Pray so that the spirit of conflict and cattle rustling will be defeated. We are doing what we can do as a government to ensure we see the last of this kind of thing,” Ruto implored.
In addition, the President called on the churchmen to pray that his government enables Kenyans to meet their basic needs. President Ruto sought divine intervention in solving the country’s economic crisis, which he reiterated was in a sorry state.
