President William Ruto while speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast Meeting reminisced how he was an outsider in the previous government, where he served as the Deputy President, saying right now tables have turned.
The president recalled asking for forgiveness from his then boss in the 2022 prayer breakfast, which was conducted a few months before the General Election.
“I remember the last prayer breakfast here was around the same. I remember asking for forgiveness from my friend the former president. It is interesting that today we are again discussing the subject of forgiveness and reconciliation,” Ruto said.
The head of state also mentioned the 2022 general elections during his speech saying, “It only happens in Kenya that in our last election, the opposition leader became the government candidate, and the sitting deputy president became the opposition, candidate.”
Moreover, he made fun of winning against the former president’s preferred candidate Raila Odinga, rendering the then-president an opposition leader.
“The opposition candidate won the election and the sitting president then handed over power to his deputy. And went ahead to become the leader of the opposition party. That only happens in Kenya,” Ruto added.
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Likewise, President Ruto stated that the 2022 General Election was a turning point for Kenya, as opposing parties disagreed and agreed on important issues, but most importantly, it was also peaceful.
“The ethnic configuration that always informed our politics was not there. We had both sides presenting a national face in their formation,” he added.
Nonetheless, speakers of the day highlighted the need for forgiveness and reconciliation between the head of state and his predecessor.
“The last prayer breakfast here was a very toxic affair full of tension and hatred. The President could not sit at the same table with his boss,” DP Rigathi Gachagua remarked, praising his boss for embracing forgiveness.
