Maybe God wants us to stop and listen to each other, says Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto gives his remarks at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi County during the 18th Annual National Prayer Breakfast on May 27, 2021 [Courtesy]

Deputy President William Ruto, in a rare public appearance alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta, has urged leaders to put aside their political differences and unite Kenyans.

Ruto's public engagements with President Kenyatta have been few and far between. In one of those scarce meetings during the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 27, Ruto said Kenyans should listen to each other and reason together.

He made inference to the upheaval caused by the Covid-19 restrictions on political campaigns and the floundering attempt to amend the Constitution, as reasons to close ranks.

"Tangatanga tours are no longer there and the reggae has stopped," Ruto said. 

"We probably need to listen and do something together," he added.

The DP also recalled ODM leader Raila Odinga's "uncharacteristic" quote from the Bible which he used to drive a message of reconciliation.

"Come, let us reason together. Maybe again God is speaking to us and saying come let us reason together," said Ruto, suggesting that the derailment of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process, allowed the country to discuss constitutional change. 

The DP referred to the effects of the pandemic on the economy, social and political sectors. He said things would be worse weren't it for government interventions.

"The ship of our country was steadied. We have progressively managed to get ourselves up. The ministry has done a commendable job and today we are discussing how we are going to vaccinate so that we can get ourselves out of this pandemic," said Ruto. 

Nonetheless, he said, amid this pandemic, there were positives.

"The president launched Lamu Port, we got our first Lady Chief Justice and our Speaker got an appointment with the elders. I think it serves him right. After being Speaker for long, it is good to be a spokesman," said the DP.