Leaders bowed in prayer to seek divine intervention for the myriad problems afflicting the nation.
Our parliamentary representatives prayed at a solemn occasion for better economic, political and social conditions.
Focus was on the tattered economy that last year grew at a slower pace than that of clash-torn and lawless Somalia and Zimbabwe’s — Africa’s typical case of a leech bled to fatten the heifer.
Like a family in communion, our leaders who, given a chance, could settle their political rivalries with knives and knobkerries, reflected on the political divisions and the monster of post-election violence.
They listened to Rwanda President Paul Kagame recount painful lessons on what led to rivers of blood in his country in 1994, and the road to healing, forgiveness and reconstruction.
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The rest of the nation followed the national prayer breakfast service with excitement and disillusionment. On the one hand the same leaders kneeling down in prayer are responsible for the political divisions and impasse that have rocked the boat and muddied the waters.
It is the same leaders whose unbridled ambitions took us to the throes of a civil war. They are the same ones who despite the hard economic times won’t heed calls to tighten their belts, slash public expenditure, trim the bloated Cabinet, cancel overseas trips, or submit to taxation of their salaries.
The prayers came at a time the consciousness of Kenyans of their tribes and political affiliations is soaring. They took place against the dwindling confidence among Kenyans on the health and efficacy of the Grand Coalition Government and the power-sharing accord signed on February 28, last year. The prayers took place as those uprooted from their homes following the wave of post-election violence soak in the rain in their makeshift camps.
As the prayers progressed, in reference to the internally displaced, the words of Mother Teresa swept across the land: "Hungry not only for bread, but for love. Naked not only for clothing but also for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks, but homeless because of rejection."
Attention also shifted to the thousands who have been bereaved by the killer Mungiki and other organised criminal gangs. The eye was also riveted on the ghosts of tribalism, corruption and inept leadership that continue to hang around our necks. The prayers were about that whichever threaten to drown us on the turbulent global waters by first reducing us into a case study of a failing State.
Today, we must remind our leaders that prayer alone will only take us as far. We must tell them that faith and commitment are the pillars of prayer that is fulfilled.
We must also recall the words of Harold J Seymour: "Leaders are the ones who keep faith with the past, keep step with the present, and keep the promise to posterity." If they fail on this score the nation is cooked.
We must also turn their attention to Sheila Murray Bethel and her teachings in Making a Difference: 12 Qualities That Make You a Leader: "If leadership serves only the leader, it will fail. Ego satisfaction, financial gain, and status can all be valuable tools for a leader, but if they become the only motivations, they will eventually destroy a leader. Only when service for a common good is the primary purpose are you truly leading." Yes, prayers alone will not take us anywhere.
