Is National Prayer Day more a ritual than day of deep reflection?

NAIROBI: "From a distance," sang Bette Midler in the hit song From a distance; "there is harmony, and it echoes through the land."

From a distance, the congregation of politicians and senior government officials at the National Prayer Day held at Safari Park yesterday projected Kenya at its best; united, peaceful and prosperous.

It was heartening to see all those political protagonists share a platform and espouse the values propagated by all religions. The camaraderie was infectious. There were gales of laughter, there were bear hugs exchanged and hearty handshakes.

Yet it is the sobering remarks by President Uhuru Kenyatta that got many thinking: Do our leaders practice what they profess?

Like she sang; "I just cannot comprehend what all this fighting is for," Mr Kenyatta was at a loss to explain the reality that replays across the country each day.

How would one surely explain the partisanship; the tribal hatred; the nepotism; the endless squabbling; the corruption; the plunder of public resources; the wastage and wanton destruction of God-given nature; the killings; the utter lack of care for our neighbour; the sense of injustice; the helplessness that assaults our society every day?

His was the sort of reality check few expected. In truth, his comments encapsulated the mood of the country. The feeling of being let down by our leaders - and by ourselves.

Yet treachery, slander and duplicity is human nature. For all have fallen short of the grace, Christian teachings tell us. And so saying a word of prayer for cleansing and forgiveness is common practice for believers. All religions also acknowledge the sanctions administered to sinners.

Last year, Mr Kenyatta and his deputy called for national unity and peace. The Government gave a pledge to fight corruption, tribalism and nepotism. A year later, there are those who still feel that too little is being done to clean up government and make it work for all Kenyans. It might take long, but things are starting to move. The ongoing corruption probe is one step that will see transgressors get punished. There are a myriad of transgressions occurring each day perpetrated by the ruling class on the poor lot. But people need to know that Government cares.

The pro-poor policies if implemented, will lift many out of the poverty pits.

When leaders come together to pray, it means a lot. One would hope that they appreciate the responsibility given to them as not for their own benefit, but rather for the common good.

The Government and the Opposition rarely see eye to eye on grave national issues and neither has there been conscious efforts to iron out their differences. But as seen Thursday, we are equal in the eyes of the Creator. That ought to be the case always.

A fragmented national leadership is bad for the country.

Last year, this newspaper expressed hope that the prayers would be given real meaning if attendance was extended to other cadres in society. If done, this will remove the risk of making the prayer day a parade of who is who in the country rather than a solemn occasion of thanks-giving and celebration of God's goodness.

Just like Bette Midler, Mr Kenyatta reminded the leaders that God was watching them from a distance.